Consolidated coverage of Austin Deck CollapseNew deck collapses in south Austin during a party at condo. Construction permitting and construction quality under investigation. 23 people injured after deck collapsesDeck collapses in south Austin during a party
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AUSTIN - A condo balcony gave way Sunday morning, injuring nearly two dozen people.
According to police, residents at the Garden Court Condominiums in south Austin were hosting a party and many of the guests were on the balcony at the time of the collapse.
Austin Police, 28 AFD firefighters and EMS responded to the condos, located at 4811 East Oltorf St., around 4 a.m. Police reported that nearly 100 people were gathered around the area of the complex when they arrived. They believe they were all likely in attendance of the party.
An Austin Fire Department written report taped on the door of the condo, says there were 30 people on structure when it collapsed. Fire officials say that was too many; exceeding the weight limit for a balcony of that size. The report also states the structure is was just a week old and was legal to use for parties.
Sunday morning City of Austin code compliance officers were on the scene to inspect.
"We need to look at it if it was permitted and what type of process went into building it," says Ron Potts, City of Austin assistant division manager, code compliance.
They will begin their initial investigation Monday morning.
"Come Monday morning we will start an investigation of whether this was all permitted to be built and we'll have the process of engineering looking at it to see what happened and perform a formal investigation," said Potts.
Dr. Christopher Ziebell with Seton Hospitals spoke at a press conference at Brackenridge Hospital on Sunday to provide patient updates.
According to Dr. Ziebell, EMS transported 13 people to Brackenridge while ten arrived on their own. Doctors said that initially nine of the 23 patients were considered “trauma stats”, which means they were in critical or near-critical condition.
Three of the 23 injured were considered to have minor enough injuries for them to be taken to a separate hospital in Round Rock. The transport allowed the doctors at Brackenridge to focus on the more serious of the patients.
Dr. Ziebell noted that five additional doctors were called into Brackenridge to provide the necessary care for the 20 patients that stayed at Brackenridge. He says that the majority of the injuries are orthopedic, including a broken jaw.
A Seton spokesperson says all of the people were admitted and some of those patients have since been released. They will provide more detailed information regarding the discharges Sunday evening.
Officials are investigating the accident to establish a clearer idea of what led up to the collapse. Some factors they will consider are to determine what the weight limit for the balcony is versus how much was on it at the time and to study the structure to see if its construction played a part.
The condo’s structural damage estimate has been set at $10,000. Dozens injured in balcony collapse
A balcony collapsed at a southeast Austin condo complex injuring dozens of people. It happened at the Garden Court Condominiums off of Oltorf Street just east of Pleasant Valley Road.
Investigators say the deck gave way around 4:15 a.m.Sunday. Dozens of people were attending a party at the condo. Omar Flemming was one of them and heard the 2nd story deck collapsed.
“I heard wood cracking a big old rumbling sound,” he said. “I was right up under them stairs. It's crazy man.” Investigators say too many people were on the balcony.
“Everybody was just having fun,” said Flemming. “There were about 30 people on the balcony I guess too much weight it couldn't handle it and it fell. We had to lift if up and get if off somebody's leg everybody was bleeding it was bad man.”
Flemming's sister was one of the people who was on the balcony when it came crashing down. She hurt her back but is okay.
EMS took 13 people to Brackenridge 10 others arrived on their own. Most of the injuries were broken bones. One person had a broken jaw and at least one other a compound fracture. One woman suffered a lacerated liver. No one was killed.
“The biggest part is the disbelief that people can't fathom they were in an incident of this magnitude,” said Chris Ziebell MD with Seton Hospitals. “That's followed by the fear and anger and trying to get a handle for yourself in what happened to you and the people you care about.”
A violation left on the front door cites several hazards at the site, including occupancy of illegal use for parties, unsafe structure, and uncertainty whether the balcony was built under a City of Austin building permit. The report also states the structure is just one week old.
Meantime Omar Flemming is counting his blessings.
“Glad to be alive man,” he said. “I’m just glad me, my sister, and my friend didn't none of us get hurt.”
Code inspectors are investigating to see if a building permit had been obtained to build the deck. Deck collapse survivors break silenceSurvivor: "It was a nightmare"
AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man and woman who survived a deck collapse at a condominium in South Austin Sunday morning returned to the scene this afternoon to get their belongings.
"It was like boom boom and then you heard everyone screaming 'help, help,'" said Erica Hagar, 21, who was among the 30 people on the wooden deck attached to the condominium unit when it collapsed. "It was a nightmare."
According to police, residents at the Garden Court Condominiums located near Oltorf Street and Sunridge Drive in South Austin, were hosting a party and many of the guests were on the balcony at the time of the collapse.
Hagar said she came to the house to party around 3:30 a.m. with her boyfriend and friends.
"Luckily, I was sitting in a chair and not standing like other people," Hagar said while choking back tears. "My boyfriend saved me, he pulled me up. I was on top but my feet were under people. I was the first one through the sliding glass door."
Hagar returned this afternoon to try and get her friend's belongings and keys. She told KXAN, two of her friends were injured and were taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge and separate hospitals in Round Rock.
"My friend had to get stitches in her eye and my other friend, he has a broken back," Hagar added.
Close to two dozen people were taken to area hospitals. The most critical patients were treated at Brackenridge, according to Dr. Christopher Ziebell with Seton Hospitals who spoke at a press conference at University Medical Center Brackenridge on Sunday to provide patient updates. Code officials to examine collapsed balcony
AUSTIN, Texas -- Code officials will examine an Austin condominium's second-floor balcony that gave way and left at least 26 people hurt.
Fire Department Lt. Randy Elmore says investigators will continue their review Monday of what happened and whether the owner had a permit to construct the balcony. Elmore says it looks like the 400-square-foot balcony should have had more support.
Partygoer Omar Flemming says about 30 people were on the balcony when it collapsed early Sunday.
A spokeswoman says University Medical Center Brackenridge treated 23 people for injuries that ranged from scratches to broken bones. Three people were taken to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center.
Most were treated and released.
Omar Flemming, 29, said he attended the party with his 37-year-old sister, who was hurt and treated at an area hospital. Omar said he helped hold the deck up and tried to save people.
"A girl's leg was up under the balcony. People had blood on their head and were saying 'help me, help," Flemming recalled. "It took 12 to 15 men just to hold the balcony up so people could move."
Both Flemming and Hagar believe they are lucky to be alive and are still in disbelief.
"You just never think the floor is going to come out from underneath you. It is a really scary feeling," Hagar said while trembling.
Sunday morning City of Austin code compliance officers were on the scene to inspect.
"We need to look at it if it was permitted and what type of process went into building it," says Ron Potts, City of Austin assistant division manager, code compliance.
They will begin their initial investigation Monday morning.
Neighbors and Flemming told KXAN the balcony was rebuilt only a couple months ago.
Condo balcony collapse injures more than a dozen party-goers
Austin emergency crews said dozens of people were injured, when a second floor balcony collapsed early Sunday morning in southeast Austin.
Emergency workers said the 400-square-foot balcony collapsed during a party at the Garden Court Condominiums, off of Oltorf Street, just east of Pleasant Valley Road.
Austin Fire Department officials said the balcony was about one week old. Investigators said too many people on the balcony at one time caused the collapse.
Code inspectors were brought in to inspect the scene, and are working to figure out if a building permit had been obtained to construct the balcony.
Though nobody died as a result of the structural collapse, emergency medical service crews took 13 people to area hospitals with minimal injuries.
Officials at University Medical Center Brackenridge said because of initial report of dozens of injured people, they used their mass casualty emergency plan to spread the injured out among area hospitals. Some were even sent to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center for treatment.
The building's damage is estimated at $10,000.
Violations discovered in balcony collapse
City Code Officers are inspecting a Southeast Austin condominium.
A balcony on a unit at the Garden Court Condominium complex off East Oltorf collapsed around 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
Nearly two dozen people were injured in the collapse-- most with broken bones. One person broke his jaw, another person broke his back. A woman suffered a lacerated liver. No one was killed. But at least two plan to file a lawsuit.
“This is a case through no fault of their own they are having to miss work, are in severe pain, are getting medical bills mounting so of course whoever is responsible for this they should be compensated,” said Attorney Alfred Ramirez.
Omar Flemming was under the deck when he heard the balcony start to come apart. He ran for cover.
"Just wood cracking a big ole rumbling sound and I was right underneath the stairs man it was crazy," he said. The balcony still hangs from the condominium. Shards of wood are scattered across the condo lawn. Victim: 'Screaming someone please help'Brothers rescue woman trapped under deck collapse
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Buried under wood and metal wreckage, Rachel Dolman tried to free herself.
Less than an hour after arriving at the party early Sunday morning at the condo at 4811 E. Oltorf St. , the deck above her fell like the hinge of a door and then tumbled to the ground.
"I was screaming, 'I'm down here, I'm down here. Someone please help,’" Dolman said.
Propping herself up on crutches just a day after doctors released her from the hospital, she told KXAN Austin News about the stampede of other victims that injured her hip and cut her liver so deep she could not get up.
"[I was] seeing the people coming out with bloody heads and bones sticking out,” she said. “Oh, my God. It was terrible."
Dolman was among 26 hurt during the deck collapse. Two of those who escaped were brothers and heard her screams. They rushed to her rescue.
"They came running back in,” said Dolman. “They had gotten out and came back in."
Austin Code Compliance investigators found the deck did not have permits, and now the city is bent on finding the contractor, who could face fines up to $2,000 a day for each of the violations.
"We found three violations concerned with the deck in the back: electrical, building and possibly impervious cover,” said Robert Alvarado, a code compliance investigator. “So once we verify if there are any more, then we’ll move forward at that point."
The deck was not on the city's radar since there was no permit and no one filed a complaint. Some 35 code compliance investigators each handle about 50 complaints at a time, a system the city admits is an overloaded one.
Once he gets out of the hospital himself, condo owner Calvin Wong could also face fines if he does not comply with the city's codes.
Dolman said she wishes he would have done that to start and hates to think what could have happened without those brave brothers.
"I mean, they were in panic,” she said. “They were in flight mode. They just weren't thinking. It was no one's fault. I don't think anyone wanted to step on me or kick me or not help me up. These guys had the sense and kept their wits about them. They're my heroes. They saved my life."
KXAN Austin News spoke with one of those brothers Monday night on the phone, who said he does not think of himself as a hero. He said they were just lucky they made it out so easily and would want someone to save them, if they were the ones trapped.
Dolman has spoken to one of them on the phone but hopes to thank them in person very soon. City: Fallen balcony had no permit, was not built to codeOwner faces fine; six people remain hospitalized.
The balcony that collapsed early Sunday, injuring about two dozen people at a Southeast Austin townhouse, did not have a permit to be built and was not constructed to city code, Austin officials said Monday.
No paperwork is on file in the city's database for Calvin Wong, the owner of the condominium, or for his brother Victor Wong, the occupant, authorizing the construction of the second-floor balcony, officials with the city's Code Compliance Department said.
The balcony also was not built to hold the 100 to 150 pounds per square foot required by city code, said Carl Wren, chief engineer for the Emergency Prevention Division of the Austin Fire Department, who assessed the fallen balcony Sunday night. The screws used to secure the balcony were too small and too few in number, he said.
"It was not anchored anywhere near adequately into the building," Wren said. "Any kind of overloading, any kind of movement, would loosen those screws."
About 26 people were flung from the 400-square-foot balcony at Garden Court Condominiums when it collapsed about 4 a.m. They were treated at the scene or taken to area hospitals, and most have now been released. Five patients remained at University Medical Center Brackenridge in good condition, a Seton spokeswoman said Monday. Calvin Wong says his brother is hospitalized at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center.
Wong, who bought the property at 4811 E. Oltorf St. in November 2000 but lives in Cedar Park, said his unemployed brother has been living in the townhouse. Wong said he had not seen his brother recently and did not know that a balcony had been added to the property.
According to a Fire Department report issued after the collapse, the balcony was completed about a week ago.
At the scene Monday, caution tape and metal fencing had been placed around the backyard to keep visitors away. An undamaged hot tub and a keg from the party could still be seen on the first-floor deck.
City inspector Jerry Reynolds said that generally, both the contractor who does the work and the owner who commissions it are held responsible for failing to secure the appropriate permits.
No official citation has been issued in this case, and fines are still being determined by code compliance officials, Reynolds said.
The city is working to send a notice of violation to the condominium owner, Reynolds said.
More violations may be added to the "work without permit" infraction, he noted, and officials are still determining which contractor was responsible for the work.
Property owners who want to build an addition to their structure must first obtain a building permit from the city's Department of Watershed Protection and Development Review, part of the Development Assistance Center, according to the division's website. The owner must draw up plans for the structure according to engineer specifications and may also be required to obtain electrical, mechanical, plumbing, concrete and development permits, depending on the type of addition.
The addition usually goes through a series of inspections to ensure it is structurally sound before the appropriate permits are issued, Reynolds said. It appears that neither Wong nor the contractor went through any of these procedures, he said.
"That's what protects the average citizen — getting that permit," Reynolds said. "These are the kinds of things that can happen when you don't get it permitted."
Calvin Wong said he first heard about the collapse and his brother's injuries while at church Sunday morning.
Since then he has been in and out of St. David's visiting his brother. Calvin Wong said Victor had successful spinal surgery Monday morning to repair his vertebrae.
"Once my brother fully recovers, he's going to take full responsibility for what happened," Calvin Wong said. | |
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