party horror |
“It all just happened in the blink of an eye, the roof just collapsed on us, it felt so scary”
Students pictured on the roof moments before it collapsed
Students pictured on the roof moments before it collapsed
Revellers react in horror as the roof falls to the street (in the background)
Revellers react in horror as the roof falls to the street (in the background)
Neil Fetherstonhaugh
Today at 14:08
The frightening moment a roof collapsed as St Patrick Day revellers celebrated on a house in Pittsburgh has been caught on camera.
The footage shows crowds of people gathered on the roofs of houses as a party-goers dance on the street below.
As the camera pans over the scenes of jubilation, in the back ground a porch suddenly gives way.
There are screams of horror from those witnessing the scenes unfold.
According to local media reports, the celebration was taking place near the University of Pittsburgh in the Oakland aera of the city.
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Sixteen people suffered injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Three of the victims were reportedly in serious condition while 13 others sustained minor injuries.
Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Emily Bourne told CBS News there were hundreds of University of Pittsburgh students in the area at the time the roof collapsed.
Authorities say it was lucky no one who was harmed in the incident died.
Students who were at the scene told how they had to help pull others out by lifting part of the porch that had collapse on tip of them.
Dave Rentzel, who was at the party, told KDKA-TV: "I was just scared for everybody that was down there.
"I was just sitting to the side and I saw it fall down."
Michael Estocin who was on the roof when it fell, added: “It all just happened in the blink of an eye, the roof just collapsed on us, it felt so scary, I really don't have the words to comprehend how I felt in the moment.”"It just fell," said Carlton Gbur, who was under the roof when it fell. "Everyone was having fun and then no one was having fun."
Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Emily Bourne told CBS News there were between 300-500 students in the courtyard at that time of the incident.
The scene has since been cleared and the rest of the building has been declared stable.
She also said the students should feel lucky it wasn't worse.
Meanwhile university has sent out a memo urging students to stay off of roofs as they celebrate this weekend.