Three injured when column falls at fairgrounds

Three people were injured, one seriously, when a decorative column fell over Friday at the Orange County Fairgrounds, authorities said.

Costa Mesa firefighters received a call at 12:07 p.m. that the 4-foot wide, 15-foot tall structure fell near Gate 4 near where the Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival was taking place, according to Capt. Tim Vasin.

Vasin said he believes the structure was part of the festival.

Bystanders lifted the column, freeing the trapped person, before firefighters arrived.

Paramedics treated one person on scene and then transported one person to Santa Ana’s Western Medical Center with traumatic injuries, Vasin said. Another person was transported to the same hospital for evaluation.

The foam column had a metal frame, making it somewhat heavy, Vasin said.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30