Tuesday, January 21, 2025
19.0°F

Dozens injured in deck collapse

Mary Cloud Taylor Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 7 months AGO
by Mary Cloud Taylor Daily Inter Lake
| June 17, 2017 6:39 PM

At least 32 people were injured, some critically, late Saturday afternoon when a second-story deck collapsed at the Glacier Presbyterian Camp in Lake County during a memorial service.

According to witness Leslie Dillon, around 50 people were gathered on the deck overlooking Flathead Lake following the service when the structure broke and fell.

Dillon said she was on the deck when it collapsed and that she walked away with some bruising, but many of her friends and relatives were taken away in ambulances.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell said Saturday evening there were no fatalities in the incident. He would not speculate as to what caused the collapse.

Medical personnel from Kalispell, Evergreen, Polson, Mission, Somers, Ronan, Lakeside and Smith Valley rushed adults and children from the scene in various conditions.

The most critically injured were airlifted from the scene by Alert and Life Flight helicopters.

Around 10 people drove to the hospital in their personal vehicles.

North Valley Hospital, Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Missoula hospitals were treating the victims, according to Lakeside/Somers Fire Chief Tom Havens.

Havens said the incident was under investigation as of Saturday evening.

The crowd was gathered to remember William Nickel, 60, a longtime Flathead Valley firefighter who died in April.

Glacier Presbyterian Camp is on the west shore of Flathead Lake south of Lakeside and is owned by Glacier Presbytery, according to the camp’s website.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.

MORE BREAKING-NEWS STORIES

Dozens injured in deck collapse
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 7 years, 7 months ago
Dozens injured in deck collapse
Lake County Leader | Updated 7 years, 7 months ago
9 victims still hospitalized after deck collapse
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 7 years, 7 months ago

ARTICLES BY MARY CLOUD TAYLOR DAILY INTER LAKE

January 21, 2018 5:26 p.m.

No headline

Tanner Coker started coughing in late August as smoke from the region’s wildfires settled into the Flathead Valley.

January 28, 2018 5:27 p.m.

No headline

By day, 66-year-old EMS Manager Dick Sine occupies an office at the Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, juggling papers and making calls to ensure each ambulance and paramedic in the county operates efficiently and legally.

February 17, 2019 1 a.m.

No headline

A table cluttered with bright feathers, sparkling thread and barbed hooks sets the stage for welcome relief to the military veterans gathered around for their weekly fly-tying lesson.