11 people hurt when Lakeside deck collapses
<p><strong>A home</strong> at 4 Lakeside Avenue is illuminated by the lights of emergency vehicles after a deck collapse that injured 11 people on Tuesday night. The deck railings were intact but the floor collapsed. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p><strong>Members</strong> of the Quick Response Unit help a Lakeside Ambulance turn around to leave the scene of a deck collapse on Tuesday night on Lakeside Avenue. A total of 11 people suffered minor injuries and were transported to either Kalispell Regional Medical Center or North Valley Hospital. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Eleven adults suffered minor injuries when a deck collapsed at a Lakeside home Tuesday night.
Ten ambulances and a host of emergency personnel from across the Flathead Valley rushed to the house on Lakeside Avenue for the incident that occurred just before 9 p.m.
Under the weight of about 40 people, most of the second-story deck looking out on Flathead Lake fell about 10 feet and crashed onto the patio below, according to Somers-Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Havens.
The floor of the deck remained in one piece, with splintered planks lining the edges where the wooden platform had broken free. It came to rest leaning against the wall of the house’s first level.
The deck railing remained intact on the second floor.
Havens said the injuries appeared to be minor and were limited to possible broken ankles.
The 11 patients were transported by ambulances to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and North Valley Hospital.
Havens said that while some children had been on the deck, none of them required immediate medical attention.
“We had a couple little kids with nose bleeds, but that was it,” Havens said.
About 20 emergency personnel responded from Somers, Lakeside, Bigfork, West Valley, Smith Valley, South Kalispell, Kalispell and Evergreen fire departments, along with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.