Over 20 injured as pier collapses at University of Wisconsin.
University of Wisconsin Pier Collapse Leaves One Hospitalized and Several Injured
Madison, Wis.—A pier where University of Wisconsin students and others were celebrating Labor Day collapsed into a lake, resulting in one person being hospitalized and approximately 20 others sustaining minor injuries, according to officials.
Video footage captured from Lake Mendota’s shoreline reveals the moment when a section of the metal pier, located just east of the Union Terrace stage on the Madison campus, gave way on Monday afternoon, causing individuals to plunge into the water.
The Madison Fire Department reported that one person was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while five others received treatment at the scene for minor injuries. Additionally, UW-Madison Police Officer Jeff Kirchman stated that around 20 individuals suffered minor injuries, in addition to the hospitalized person.
Debra Drewek, a retired nurse who happened to be at the terrace taking pictures when the collapse occurred, described the chaotic scene: “There were way too many kids on the piers. They were packed. There was no warning. All of a sudden it went down and people were in the water.”
Drewek mentioned that many of those on the collapsed section managed to swim to shore, while others clung to the pier, awaiting rescue boats. She observed that most injuries seemed to be leg scrapes and noted, “a lot of kids were crying because they had laptops, wallets, and phones underwater.”
Efforts are underway to recover lost items from the lake, as Kirchman confirmed.
School officials stated that an estimated 60 to 80 students and members of the public were on the pier at the time of the collapse. The pier was open to the public, although swimming in the surrounding area of the lake was prohibited, and no lifeguards were on duty. The incident is currently under investigation.
The pier was scheduled for removal on Tuesday due to the end of the summer season, according to school spokesman John Lucas.
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