Deck collapses at rental beach house, leaving 5 injured, Virginia officials say
A deck crashed down at a beachfront rental home, leaving five people hurt, Virginia officials say.
A Pittsburgh family was staying at the Virginia Beach property when a deck broke away from the back of the house Thursday, according to WAVY.
Photos and videos from news outlets show the second-story deck resting on the ground below.
“Thank goodness, apparently there was a neighbor out taking out the trash,” Chad Houston, a vacationer staying nearby, told WVEC. “I think he had some EMT experience and he called 911.”
Virginia Beach first responders on Twitter said the collapse left five people with non-life threatening injuries. Officials didn’t reveal how many people were on the deck, which was at a home in the coastal Sandbridge area.
The cause of the collapse was unknown as of Thursday, and inspectors planned to follow up, WAVY and WVEC reported.
Virginia Beach on its website says permits and inspections are required for new decks. Officials say the structures can wear out over time and should be checked periodically.
“The optimal time to have your deck or porch inspected is in the spring to ensure that these structures are in a sound condition before heavy seasonal use,” the website said.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Deck collapses at rental beach house, leaving 5 injured, Virginia officials say."
