Posted on 07/07/2002 3:24:50 AM PDT by kcvl
By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press Writer
POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) . A deck at an oceanfront residence collapsed Saturday night during a party, resulting in injuries that required the hospitalization of 31 people.
Police said several other people were treated at the scene. Most of the injuries involved cuts, bruises, broken bones, and injuries to the back, neck and pelvis. One person underwent surgery for an injury, said Police Chief Dan DePolo.
The 20-foot by 12-foot deck, which was 10 feet off the ground, gave way at about 9:25 p.m. during the Independence Day party, DePolo said. He said the age of the structure may have been a factor.
``There was some rot you would expect with a deck this age, plus the number of people on it,'' he said.
The house was condemned by building inspectors because the collapse damaged part of its roof, DePolo said.
Matt Task of Warren Township was on the deck, standing near a railing when it gave way.
``It was like slow motion. We were just falling. It couldn't have lasted that long, but it felt like eternity,'' he said.
Task said after the collapse, he and others worked to free people who were pinned.
Task, who works as a deck builder, said he examined the side of the house after the incident. The deck appeared to have been nailed instead of bolted to the house, he said.
07-07-02 0342EDT
Wonder if the deck was built by the original builder or a DIYer doing it on the cheap. If the latter, I doubt the homeoner got a building permit. Many, many years ago, rented a house from a guy whose DIY projects (on the super cheap) caused the collapse of a porch. He wanted me to buy the place - frankly he couldn't give it to me. Too much was wrong. Naturally, he by-passed all the necessary inspections, etc.
That's overkill. No doubt the house can be repaired but I suspect this is revenge for the collapse PLUS part of the EcoNazzi plan to eliminate another beach house. No real private property rights whatever in NJ it appears.
I'm betting it was "supported" on one end by deck hangers, which scare the bejesus out of me. Usually the cause failure in recently constructed decks.
It could go exponential as factors combine(cheap shoddy construction + idiotic overweight party animals who need to fall into the sea & be food anyway).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.