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May 17, 2008 7:09 pm US/Central
Apartment Balcony Collapses With 4 People On It
LITTLE CANADA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
A night out on the balcony has landed two people in the hospital. They were hurt when the balcony they were on collapsed at Montreal Courts apartment building in Little Canada. The accident happened around 7:30 Friday night.
The third story balcony completely sheared off the wall. As it fell it ripped off part of a balcony below. Four men were on the piece that dropped. Rescuers helped two men at the scene and two others were taken to Regions Hospital.
Witnesses said the accident happened very fast. In a matter of seconds, four men who were enjoying a night on an apartment balcony fell 30 feet to the ground.
"We were just sitting over there talking and we just heard like a crunching noise, when you break a stick it makes that crunch noise. And just, the whole thing just fell to the ground," said witness Stacy Hoffman.
Within hours of the balcony collapse people living in Montreal Courts received a letter from the property managers. The letter asks residents living on the second and third floors to stay off their balconies until further notice.
Jessica Ball read the letter and doesn't plan on going on her balcony any time soon, but that was a decision she made before this accident. She has lived in her Montreal Courts apartment for four years, and she said her balcony has been wobbly ever since she moved in.
"I don't think it's normal, I don't think it's supposed to be like that at all. No. It's scary," said Ball.
Ball said she and her neighbors are concerned over the way balconies have been repaired in the past. In her opinion, this accident could have been prevented.
"Personally I think it was a problem waiting to happen. I think it's management's fault for not looking into it more. Obviously something happened so they needed to do something beforehand," said Ball.
Calls to the property managers were not returned. The management company did inform Montreal Courts residents that their balconies will be inspected for defects. Those inspections will begin on Monday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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