4 injured, 3 hospitalized after railing collapses

Three people were hospitalized after a balcony collapsed Saturday.

IU-Health Bloomington Hospital officials could not disclose the status of two of the injured individuals, but one of them is listed in fair condition as of Tuesday.

The second-story railing collapse at a residence on the 700-block of East Eighth Street caused 10 people to fall.

Bloomington Fire Department Sgt. Brandon Hudson said dispatch received a call at 6:37 p.m., and the first responders were on scene at 6:40 p.m.

Responders arrived from the BFD, Bloomington Police Department and IU Police Department to find four people were injured in the collapse.

Three individuals were transported to the hospital for minor injuries, BPD Sgt. Joe Crider said.

One of the residents had minor cuts to his right hand and complained of pain in his left knee. One individual was in an “altered level of consciousness” at the scene of the accident and complained of head and back pain, Crider said, while another had difficulty breathing and complained of pain in his back and ribs.

A fourth man, who suffered cuts to both sides of his face, declined transport to the hospital.

Hudson said the railing had been unable to support the number of people leaning on it.

“It was overloading,” Hudson said. “People were sitting on it.”

Medical treatment was provided to those who had fallen, and emergency response crews began to secure the area by blocking off the balcony. Residents could not
access the area until it was repaired and deemed safe, Hudson said.

Responders remained on scene until 7:58 p.m. The cost of the damages has yet to be determined.

Dennis Barbosa and Amanda Marino