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13 charges filed in fatal Radiohead stage collapse in Canada

TORONTO, June 9 (UPI) -- Concert promoter Live Nation Canada Inc., a staging company and an engineer have been charged in a fatal stage collapse in Toronto last summer.

The collapse happened at Toronto's Downsview Park before a Radiohead concert.

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Scott Johnson, a 33-year-old drum technician, was killed in the incident, three others were injured, and the sold-out concert was canceled.

The Ministry of Labor announced the charges Friday -- a few days shy of the one-year anniversary of the collapse, the Toronto Star reported.

Live Nation Canada Inc. and Live Nation Ontario Concerts GP Inc. were charged with violating the Occupational Health and Safety Act by allegedly failing to ensure the stage was designed and constructed to support all likely loads.

"We will vigorously defend ourselves and we are confident that through this process the facts will come to light and we will be exonerated," Live Nation said in a statement.

The staging company Optex Staging & Services Inc. faces charges similar to those against Live Nation.

Domenic Cugliari, an engineer based in Ontario, is charged with endangering a worker.

The companies may be fined as much as $500,000 per charge if convicted, said ministry spokesman Matt Blajer. Cugliari faces a $25,000 fine or as much as a year in prison if he is convicted.

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