Porch collapse kills 12 at Chicago party!

[wx247]

I haven't seen anything posted on here about this so I thought I would share it. Sad!

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Two wooden porches laden with college students collapsed during a party early Sunday, killing 12 people and injuring 57 others when they plunged into an alley, officials said.

As many as 50 people, mostly college-age partygoers, were crowded onto the second- and third-story porches of an apartment building when the top porch collapsed into the second and they both fell to the ground at around 12:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. EDT), officials said.

Chicago Fire Commissioner James Joyce said it was "a case of too many people in a small space."

[j]

I saw the pictures of the dwelling. What were these stupid people thinking?

[wx247]

I don't know. I didn't think the porch looked strong enough to hold 1 person, let alone a mob of them.

[Lindaloo]

From what I understand the porches were built only a year ago. IMO they should have been stronger built since they were at a third level. This is indeed a tragedy!! They all had their whole lives ahead of them.

[j]

50 people Linda.....assuming they were built to code, they have exceeded even the safety factor built in no doubt. I blame the irresponsible supposedly intelligent college students for cramming that many people onto a porch.

[JCT777]

I blame the irresponsible supposedly intelligent college students for cramming that many people onto a porch.

Agreed. It would be like cramming several dozen people on my back porch (which is elevated) and getting upset at the builders when it collapsed and someone broke an arm or a leg. There is a limit to how much something can hold.

[wx247]

I completely agree that there were far too many people on them. I also don't think they were too strong IMO. But what do I know...