Father killed when storm slams tent down on crowd near Chicago; 15 injured

WOOD DALE, Ill. -- A father of two was killed and 15 others were injured after a tent collapsed at a festival in northwest suburban Wood Dale, Illinois.

Steven Nincic, 35, was enjoying the last day of Wood Dale's annual Prairie Fest with his wife and two young children when fest officials saw a storm approaching around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

They shut down the rides and tried to get everyone out of the main tent where a band was playing. But witnesses said strong winds lifted the tent into the air and sent debris flying.

"We turned to look and the tent flew off into the sky. The fence flew up and everyone was on the floor. You heard screaming and crying," 11-year-old Bella Salgado said. "I saw one of my friends on the floor. Her whole arm was cut. I was really, really afraid. I was trying to get cops to come over by her."

PHOTOS: Tent collapses in Wood Dale

Nincic was killed after a tent pole struck his head.

"It started pouring down, super windy. Next thing you know the tent just picked up and flew. It was horrible. We ran out trying to help people. There were people with their heads split open," said Kendall, a witness.

Fifteen people were taken to the hospital. Three were in serious-to-critical condition. The other twelve were treated for minor injuries.