Luke Bryan tour opener marred by stage collapse

Four people have been hospitalized after country star Luke Bryan's stage collapsed following the launch of his latest tour in Ohio on Thursday (16Jan14).

Members of the singer's crew and arena staff at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus were dismantling the platform at the end of the night when a forklift crashed into the structure, causing part of the stage to fall, according to TMZ.com.

Emergency services were called to the scene to attend to the victims, who have since been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The extent of their injuries was unclear as WENN went to press.

As a result of the stage collapse, Bryan has postponed the next concert on his That's My Kind of Night tour, which was scheduled for Kentucky on Friday (17Jan14).

A statement released on Friday by venue representatives in Kentucky reads: "Tonight's Luke Bryan concert at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky will be rescheduled for Friday, February 21 due to damage sustained to a piece of the stage during production load out after last night's show in Columbus, Ohio.

"The damage occurred after the show had ended and no fans were in the building. The tour's team will make the necessary repairs to the production elements so the tour may continue."

It is not yet known if any other dates on the trek will be affected by the incident. Bryan, who has yet to comment on the incident, is due to perform a sold out gig in Tennessee on Saturday (18Jan14), in addition to dates in Connecticut next week (begs20Jan14).