SIKESTON - Sixteen people were injured when an elevated deck collapsed during a party.
At approximately 9 p.m. Friday, Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to a report of a deck collapse in the 100 block of North Ridge Road. According to Capt. Jim McMillian, DPS public information officer, a family was having an event on their elevated outside deck in which over 20 people were gathered.
"At some point during the event several people moved to one area of the deck to congratulate an expectant mother," McMillian said in a news release. "Apparently the support gave way in this area of the deck and then other supports followed. The deck fell away from the home and several members of the group fell nearly 15 feet with the structure."
Sikeston Rescue Squad, Sikeston DPS Fire and Patrol Division, South Scott and New Madrid County ambulance service all responded to assist the injured. The first responders worked to triage the injured and searched the collapsed structure for possible entrapped persons, McMillian reported.
Fifteen of the injured were transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center and one was transported to a hospital in Cape Girardeau.
Most sustained minor injuries, however, McMillian said, there were also broken limbs, lacerations and back injuries. He said there were two to three expectant mothers who fell, but at last report they were expected to recover without any complications.
For the full story, see Monday's Standard Democrat.