233063

BC  

Deck collapse, dozens hurt

UPDATE: noon

Police continue to investigate the cause of a deck collapse at a home in Langley, during a wedding celebration that injured more than 35 people, several critically.

Langley RCMP say in a Saturday statement that officers have been at the scene since Friday evening, but the cause of the collapse has not been determined.

Cpl. Craig van Herk says preliminary investigation suggests the collapse did not result from any criminal actions.

Van Herk says 911 calls started flooding the Langley RCMP Friday evening, with reports of multiple injuries at a home on 268th Street.

He says the RCMP stayed at the scene overnight and will remain there until the area is deemed safe.

Van Herk says police do not have detailed information on the status of those injured, who range in age from children to seniors.


ORIGINAL: 9 a.m.

Police say dozens of people were injured, some critically, when the second storey deck of a home in Langley, collapsed Friday evening during a wedding celebration.

RCMP Cpl. Craig Van Herk said 911 calls started flooding in around 5:45 p.m. local time reporting multiple injuries at a home on 268th Street.

Van Herk said police, the B.C. Ambulance Service and local firefighters all responded to the scene where they found 35 to 40 injured people ranging in age from children to the elderly.

He said one person was transported by air ambulance to hospital in critical condition, while possibly two others, also critical, were taken to hospital in road ambulances. Van Herk added that nearly 20 people had suffered serious injuries, while 12 to 15 others were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

Van Herk said there were more than 100 people at the party, however, it wasn't immediately known how many were on the deck when it fell.

He noted that it was a "fairly dynamic, complex situation" as first responders arrived to find so many injured people. He said investigators would return Saturday to try to determine the cause of the collapse.



More BC News