Outside Firm Hired to Probe Indiana Stage Collapse

The investigation into the collapse of a stage at the Indiana Stage Fair on August 13 will be investigated by Witt Associates, a Washington-based firm, several newspapers have reported.

The New York Times characterized Witt Associates as "a public safety and crisis management firm from Washington," and quoted the office of the state's governor, Mitch Daniels, as saying Witt would assess the "adequacy of state fair procedures and the effectiveness of decision-making," and the response to the accident.

The Indianapolis Star noted that "the firm brings not only experience -- Witt also is advising Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina -- but political credibility for Indiana's Republican state government given Witt's Democratic roots." James Lee Witt, the firm's founder was an emergency manager director under former President Bill Clinton.

Also engaged to look into the disaster is the New York-based firm Thornton Tomasetti. The Indiana state legislature may launch a third investigation as well.