9 hurt in collapse of deck
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Jun. 12 2009
WILDWOOD — Nine women were hurt when a wooden deck collapsed Thursday evening
at a residence in the 2700 block of Autumn Run Court, authorities said.
 St. Louis County police Sgt. Tracy Panus said about 20 people were on the deck
at a bridal shower when the deck caved in about 6:45 p.m. She said the victims
were transported to hospitals.
She said none of the injuries were "life-threatening."
Neighbors said the home is the residence of Larry Patey, a former St. Louis
Blues player.
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June 11, 2009 -- Metro West Firefighters gather around a collapsed porch in the 2700 block of Autumn Run Court in Wildwood. Firefighters called for extra help when they arrived because so many people were injured when the deck fell. |
Assistant Chief Ed Beirne of the Metro West Fire Protection District said
rescue workers got to the scene about three minutes after the call came out and
found nine victims.
"They were pretty calm," Beirne said. "No one was trapped."
One of the victims was flown by helicopter to St. John's Mercy Medical Center,
Beirne said, and one of the injured had a fractured arm.
A spokesman said St. John's was treating six patients from the deck collapse.
One was in critical condition, two were in serious condition and three were in
satisfactory. Their injuries ranged from bumps and bruises to broken bones and
cuts to more serious internal injuries.
Beirne said that the deck is behind the two-story brick home on Autumn Run and
that it was built on a slope. At its highest point, it is 14 feet from the
ground.
The collapse reportedly occurred as women in the bridal party were posing for
pictures, Beirne said.
Metro West officials said the homeowners did not want to talk to reporters.
Greg Jonsson of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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Can't tell about the deck but the railing isn't built to county codes. The ballusters are spaced too far apart. |
I agree, but on the news, they said the house was built in 1984. Do you know what the code was for back then as far as ballister spacing? And I don't think ballister spacing would cause the deck to fall but you'd think if that wasn't up to code, what else wasn't. Hope Larry's well-insured as I remember all his short-handed goals fondly. |
20 people on a deck made for around 6 to 8? Can we spell OVERLOADED? 99% of deck collapses are caused by overloading. (would these same people put 15 people in a canoe?) |
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