At least 16 young adults were hospitalized after a porch roof collapsed Friday afternoon at an off-campus house in Oakland near the University of Pittsburgh, creating a chaotic scene during a St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebration.
Witnesses told TribLive there were about 20 students on the roof of a porch on Semple Street that collapsed on a group of about another 20 students shortly after 5 p.m.
“We had 16 transports, all (in) stable condition, three serious but stable, with minor leg and arm injuries and a number of concussions,” Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman Emily Bourne said. “One of those serious but stable (injured) was likely a fracture to her leg.”
Witnesses said they saw others who had been bleeding and injured leaving the scene without waiting for medical attention there.
Bourne said between 300 and 500 people were in the space between that building and ones across a narrow alley from it. She could not confirm how many were on the porch or under it when it collapsed.
Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections condemned the rear porch, but the residence itself was not, according to Bourne.
City police had not issued any citations in connection with the incident as of late Friday.
“Our priority was ensuring that the individuals who sustained injuries were treated medically,” Bourne said.
She could not confirm whether those injured were students.
“It was pretty chaotic,” said Abby Marmelstein, 21, a junior nursing major who was across the street from the house where the roof collapsed. “People were screaming and running. Some people immediately started trying to lift the roof and get people out.”
Video of the incident showed that the 300 block of Semple Street and its sidewalks were packed with people. The gathering began in the midafternoon, as students kicked off a host of planned St. Patrick’s Day events.
Witnesses said ambulances and fire trucks arrived on the scene within minutes.
“I saw the entire roof fall, and I thought for sure there were going to be fatalities,” said Nathan Pierzchala, 21, a junior biology major from Bucks County. He was about 20 feet from the porch. “My heart started racing a mile a minute.”
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Pierzchala said he watched people immediately start looking to see whether there was anyone trapped under the collapsed porch. He and others said they weren’t surprised it collapsed.
“The wood looks like it’s rotting,” he said. “It’s a really old deck.”
University of Pittsburgh seniors Casey Dinan of Arlington, Va., and Jason Stefko of Meadville were partying with friends a few doors down from where the collapse took place.
“I’m glad no one got too, too hurt,” said Dinan, who saw the collapse. “Obviously, a bunch of people got taken to the hospital, but no one seemed to be too, too critical.
“You just see everyone flood out like ants. Everyone’s drinking, and you panic when something like that happens. You see everyone walking away.
“Everyone’s bloodied up because the roof comes down. You hope they eventually touch back in with some medical professional. A lot had to be tended to after that roof came down.”
Stefko said he did not hear the collapse but saw the aftermath.
“It was just unexpected,” he said. “People just rushed out. … I’m like, ‘What happened?’ You’re wondering, did they have too much for St. Patty’s Day, or whatever. It kind of went worse from there.”
The seniors said Semple Street is a popular party street for students, especially on holiday weekends.
Stefko recalled seeing what he estimated to be 2,000 people on the street a couple of years ago for St. Patrick’s Day.
They applauded Pittsburgh police and EMS for their quick response and discretion.
“When something like this happens, you’re always worried that the police are going to arrest everyone,” Dinan said. “They kept it calm. They were really good at filtering out people being drunk idiots and actually getting to the people that needed attention, which is good.”