Eastlake Church Tent Collapse Kills 1, Injures 22 at 20th Anniversary Service
Updated
Updated · WDBJ · Jun 13
Eastlake Church Tent Collapse Kills 1, Injures 22 at 20th Anniversary Service
3 articles · Updated · WDBJ · Jun 13
Summary
An 85-year-old church member, Bob Stouffer, died after a burst of wind collapsed a tent at Eastlake Community Church in Moneta during its 20th anniversary celebration; 22 others were injured.
Pastor Troy Keaton said the storm moved in as the service began, children were sent inside, and the tent was gone within about five seconds as he prepared to dismiss the crowd.
The church spent Saturday cleaning up, meeting affected families and offering counseling, while Keaton described Stouffer as a pillar of the congregation who had returned from Pennsylvania for the event.
All remaining anniversary events were canceled, but the church plans to hold Sunday service at 10 a.m. as the community shifts from celebration to recovery.