Sugarland calls Indiana State Fair tragedy a 'true accident' in lawsuit defending their involvement

Sugarland was involved in a tragic incident last summer, when the stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair, a venue they were set to perform at.

Tragically, seven people’s lives were taken and over 40 people were injured after a strong gust of wind had blown over the stage.

A number of victims from that fateful day on August 13 have filed a lawsuit against the country singing duo, accusing them of negligence.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are now responding to the lawsuit that was filed in November in Marion Superior Court, USA Today reports.

The duo called the unfortunate occurrence a result of "gust of wind of unprecedented intensity,” maintaining they “had nothing to do with the construction of the venue.”

Nettles and Bush named other parties who they claim are in part responsible for the stage collapse, such as the state of Indiana, Indiana State Fair officials, Indiana State Police and labor union workers who put together the stage.

CNN reports that Indiana State Fair Commission paid a fine of $6,300 due to state workplace safety regulators saying there wasn’t a sufficient safety evaluation at the venue.

Also, the Indiana Department of Labor said they paid a total of $80,800 for not meeting safety precautions before the show.

Moreover, the executive director of the fair had stated in a lawsuit against one company that the show’s promoter had spoken to Sugarland twice about delaying the show, but they refused.

Sugarland still maintains, however, that the tragedy was "a true accident, or act of God."