News 27 Live
News 27 Live
34°C

Select Language

Udaipur Technology Business Health Sports Politics Events
Sign In Join
Technology

Tent Collapses at Virginia Church Celebration, Killing 1 and Injuring 22

A large tent collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday evening, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, officials said. Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 …

Sarah Johnson Sarah Johnson · · 5 min read · 0 views

Share this article

WhatsApp Facebook X Messenger
Tent Collapses at Virginia Church Celebration, Killing 1 and Injuring 22

Tent Collapses at Virginia Church Celebration, Killing 1 and Injuring 22

Sarah Johnson · Jun 15, 2026

A large tent collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday evening, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, officials said. Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 …

var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

Tent Collapses at Virginia Church Celebration, Killing 1 and Injuring 22

By https://www.insurancejournal.com/author/hallie-golden/" title="Posts by Hallie Golden" class="author url fn" rel="author">Hallie Golden | June 15, 2026 Email This https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2026/06/15/873680.htm?print" class="social-link print" onClick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Print', 'Type', 'Article Print']);">

A large tent collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday evening, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, officials said.

Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Richmond, as the EastLake Community Church was holding an outdoor service, Shelley Basinger, a spokesperson for Bedford County, said in a statement.

var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

The group was in the process of leaving the event tent when it collapsed, according to Abbey Johnston, acting chief of Bedford County Fire and Rescue

Eleven people were taken to the hospital and 11 others had minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Basinger said.

“Initially, I’m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to account for the individuals,” Johnston told reporters.

Officials rushed to rescue everyone inside the tent behind the church and move them to safety as the strong thunderstorm raged on, she said.

Troy Keaton, the non-denominational church’s senior pastor, said he had just walked up to the stage to tell the group to go to their cars when a gust of wind picked up the tent.

“Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury,” he said in a statement on social media. “Our hearts are broken for his precious family.”

var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

The tent had seating for 1,500 people, according to officials, but it was not immediately clear how many were inside when it collapsed.

No details were provided about the conditions of the people in the hospital.

Officials are gathering evidence as they investigate the collapse, Johnston said.

The tent had passed an inspection by the county’s building inspections division three days earlier, according to Basinger.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger said her team has been in close contact with the response crew on the ground.

“I am praying for the EastLake Community Church and all who are impacted, and we will continue to support the community during this difficult time,” she said in a statement on social media.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Virginia

Was this article valuable?

Yes No

Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article.

Submit No Thanks

Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it.

Submit No Thanks

Here are more articles you may enjoy.

" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2026/06/15/873675.htm"> https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/drought-wheat-crop-Kansas-AP-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />El Nino Is Here and Scientists Fear It’ll Bring Costly Heat, Floods, Droughts, Fires " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2026/06/11/873369.htm"> https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Ben-Jerrys-Ice-Cream-Bloomberg-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Says Brand Being ‘Destroyed’ by Magnum " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/06/04/872383.htm"> https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/firearms-exclusion-Adobe-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" />Georgia Brokers and Agents Alarmed After Court Ruling Expands Liability for Them " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2026/06/12/873605.htm"> https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2023/08/business-growth-with-arrow-target-467250619-bigstock-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />US P/C Industry Records $16 Billion Underwriting Income in Q1

Written By Hallie Golden

Associated Press

https://www.insurancejournal.com/author/hallie-golden/" class="author-byline-more"> More From Author

Interested in Church?

Get automatic alerts for this topic.

Submit Email This https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2026/06/15/873680.htm?print" class="social-link print" onClick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'Print', 'Type', 'Article Print']);"> var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

Add a CommentSee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2026/06/15/873680.htm?comments">See All Comments (0)Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name *

Comment

Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Notify me of comments via e-mail

More Newshttps://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2026/06/15/873794.htm"> width="134" height="134" src="https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2025/08/Elon-Musk-xAI-AdobeStock-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />Musk’s xAI Accused of Illegally Firing Engineer Who Raised Safety Concernshttps://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2026/06/15/873788.htm"> width="134" height="134" src="https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/screwworm-fly-Adobe-150x150.jpeg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />Florida Tries to Block Rescue Pets from New Mexico and Texas as Screwworm Spreadshttps://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2026/06/15/873772.htm"> width="134" height="134" src="https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Tornado-Damage-Illinois-2-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />Tornadoes in Illinois and Indiana Leave Residents Grappling With Damagehttps://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2026/06/15/873762.htm"> width="134" height="134" src="https://www.insurancejournal.com/app/uploads/2026/06/Texas-Flooding-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-134x134 size-134x134 wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />Floods Threaten Texas and Louisiana This WeekMore News Features var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

Read This Next

var ut = Cookies.get("usertopics"); var uc = Cookies.get("usercompanies"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined" || typeof uc !== "undefined") { var adins = document.getElementsByTagName("INS"); if (typeof ut !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ctopics", ut); } if (typeof uc !== "undefined") { adins[adins.length - 1].setAttribute("data-revive-ccompanies", uc); } }

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2026/06/15/873680.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="inline-block bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white font-semibold px-6 py-3 rounded-lg transition">Read Full Article on Insurance Journal

How did this make you feel?

Comments (0)

Log in or create an account to leave a comment.

No comments yet. Be the first!