A college homecoming party turned chaotic on Friday night in Williamsburg, Virginia, when a back deck collapsed, injuring at least 28 people. Emergency crews quickly arrived at the scene as reports of the incident came in around 10:07 p.m.
William & Mary confirmed that some of its students were among those hurt. Fortunately, all injuries sustained were not life-threatening, according to local officials.
Emergency crews transported 13 individuals to hospitals, while another 15 sought medical attention on their own later. Neighbors said that the party was in full swing when the deck gave way. One resident described seeing emergency vehicles filling the street, noting, “All the way down the street and wrapped around just ambulances and fire trucks.” They specifically recalled seeing many hospital gurneys being brought out.
Joshua Wise, a neighbor who returned home after the emergency response had concluded, mentioned that some of his classmates were involved. One of his housemates actively helped others get home after the incident. “Word was traveling pretty fast,” he shared, reflecting on how swiftly information spread throughout the area.
He felt that it was heartwarming to see the neighborhood come together during such a frightening event. “We did everything we could to help each other out, and I think that that’s beautiful,” Wise remarked.
In a message to the campus community on Saturday, Ginger Ambler, the senior vice president for student affairs and public safety at William & Mary, expressed gratitude that none of the injuries were severe. She mentioned that they were still gathering information and noted that additional students might have sought care after the incident.
The university’s staff from various support offices were engaged in assisting the impacted students, as Ambler acknowledged that the experience could affect individuals in distinct ways. Wise also commended the emergency responders for their quick arrival, stating, “Thank goodness for the emergency responders. They were great.” Meanwhile, local police and firefighters coordinated with hospitals to verify the total number of treated individuals. The city’s Codes Compliance Division is currently assessing the incident site.
