State police now say twelve people were injured Saturday night when a floor collapsed inside an apartment unit along Medlar Drive in White Township. Seven victims were taken by ambulance to the Indiana Regional Medical Center and another was taken by private vehicle, apparently after first being treated at the scene.
The incident happened at the Elm by Traverse Commons, located behind the Regency Mall. The second floor on the three-story building had collapsed and a large number of people were milling about outside when police arrived. One person was lying on the road after having escaped the building, and the others had gotten out through a broken first floor window, which was when it appears they were hurt, according to police.
Police have not determined yet how many people were inside the apartment, which was evidently the scene of a party in association with IUPatty’s, the unsanctioned annual event for which a large number of police officers and the State Police Mounted Unit are brought in.
IUP is prepared to help those who have been left without a place to stay. None of the victims have been publicly identified
Six fire companies (Indiana, Homer City, Elderton, Creekside, Clymer, and Marion Center) were dispatched when the alarm was raised at 11:50 PM and two others were placed on standby. The initial call indicated that there was entrapment but everyone was quickly accounted for and most of the fire companies were canceled before arrival at the scene.
