CHICAGO (CBS) – A horrific accident in India left a Chicago-area technology CEO dead and the company's president seriously injured. The whole thing was captured on video.
What was meant to be a celebration of success turned tragic when CEO Sanjay Shah, 56, and company president Raju Datla, 52, appeared from 15 feet above the ground in front of a packed audience at a party for employees of Vistex, a Vistex-based software company crashed Barrington, Illinois.
One of the highlights was an air show. A specially designed wooden stage was lifted 20 feet above the concrete stage using a crane. Shah and Datla were in an iron cage.
They were supposed to be lowered, but the iron chain supporting the cage broke on one side, causing them to fall 15 feet (about 4.5 meters) to the main stage.
A CBS affiliate in India reported that the accident occurred on Thursday evening with 700 people in attendance to celebrate Vistex Asia's successful 25th anniversary.
Shah injured his leg and hand. Datla suffered a serious head injury.
Shah died in hospital and Datla is in a critical condition.
The Vistex flag now hangs at half-staff in Barrington. Vistex is a multinational software company founded by Shah in 1999.
CBS' Indian affiliate reported that a case was initiated against Film City Event Management following a complaint from a company employee.
Vistex has 20 offices worldwide and employs more than 2,000 people.
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