A college homecoming celebration turned into a frightening emergency Friday night when a crowded porch suddenly collapsed at a Virginia home, leaving at least 28 people injured and sending emergency crews rushing to the scene.
The terrifying incident unfolded shortly after 10 p.m. on October 23 at an off-campus residence near William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where students had reportedly gathered for a homecoming party.
According to city officials, emergency dispatchers received a report of a structural collapse at a house in the 200 block of Matoaka Court around 10:07 p.m. When firefighters and police arrived, they discovered that the home’s back porch had given way.
The collapse came during what was supposed to be a weekend of celebration, as William & Mary marked the 100th anniversary of its homecoming festivities, bringing students and alumni together for several days of events.
By Saturday morning, the number of people seeking medical attention had climbed to at least 28. Emergency responders transported 13 people to local hospitals, while another 15 made their own way to medical facilities for treatment.
Despite the alarming number of injuries, officials confirmed that none were considered life-threatening. Authorities cautioned that the total could increase as hospitals continue reporting additional patients who sought treatment independently.
The sudden collapse stunned people living nearby, including residents who described confusion and concern as word of the emergency spread through the neighborhood.
Neighbor Joshua Wise told WAVY-TV that news of the incident traveled quickly. Although the emergency response had largely ended by the time he returned, one of his housemates had been helping those affected find transportation and get where they needed to go.
“It was definitely a scary situation,” Wise recalled.
The incident also prompted an emotional response from William & Mary officials, who acknowledged that the experience could have lasting effects on the students involved.
“We are grateful that none of the injuries were life-threatening,” said Ginger Ambler, the university’s senior vice president for student affairs and public safety.
Ambler said the university was coordinating counseling, wellness services, academic assistance and other support for affected students as they recover.
Meanwhile, Williamsburg’s Codes Compliance Division is inspecting the property to determine what may have caused the porch to collapse. Officials have not publicly identified the cause or announced any inspection findings.
The investigation comes as students and their families grapple with an unsettling question: How did an ordinary homecoming gathering turn into an emergency that sent more than two dozen people to the hospital?
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