Deck Collapse At Sugarloaf-Area Bar Sends Five People To Maine Hospitals
Five patrons of a restaurant near Sugarloaf were injured on Saturday, April 16, 2011, when the wooden fire escape where they were gathered collapsed. At least 10 people fell 15 feet to the ground when the landing and staircase where they were standing crashed to the ground, striking rocks.
Two men and two women were brought by ambulance to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, Maine. Another injured individual was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Three of the people were treated and released, while one was admitted to the hospital and another was transferred to Central Maine Medical Center.
The cause of the collapse at the The Rack bar and grill restaurant in Carrabassett Valley is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office. The names of the victims have not been disclosed.
Investigators did not know the age of the wooden fire escape but Ken Grimes of the Fire Marshal's Office said the materials seemed new.
The bar is co-owned by Jeff Strunk and Olympic gold medalist snowboarder, Seth Wescott. The establishment was cleared to open on Sunday but only as the first floor.
04-18-11 Portland Press Herald Article On Incident:
www.mainepersonalinjurylaw.com/uploads/file/five-hurt-when-fire-escape-collapses-pph(2).pdf
Here at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein we have represented numerous Maine clients who have been injured in deck collapse accidents. Cases such as these require the attention of an experienced personal injury attorney. It is important that the investigation of such claims take place promptly while the damaged structure is still available for inspection by an experienced expert.
Carrabassett Valley Police Chief Scott Nichols noted a near-capacity crowd was on hand at the bar that night, with many people coming from the Reggae Festival held earlier in the day at Sugarloaf ski resort. He thought it likely there was too much weight with at least 10 patrons occupying the second floor fire escape landing. Chief Nichols indicated that the fire escape is labeled in red as an emergency exit. No bar staff was present on the second floor at the time of the collapse.
