A section of bleacher railing gave way at TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minnesota on Thursday night, sending roughly 20 to 30 students tumbling several feet onto the field below during a high school football game between Cretin-Derham Hall and St. Thomas Academy.
The collapse happened while the Cretin-Derham Hall student section was cheering from the stands, according to multiple witnesses. Students fell an estimated four to six feet after the railing separated, and emergency medical crews were called to the scene to treat the injured.
One student hospitalized, now recovering
Emergency responders evaluated a number of students at the stadium, and at least one was taken to a hospital for further treatment. That student has since been discharged, and all of those involved are reported to be in stable condition and recovering.
TCO Stadium sits inside the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, which also serves as the Minnesota Vikings’ practice facility. The 6,000-seat outdoor venue has hosted a growing number of area high school football games in recent seasons.
Vikings, venue staff inspecting other railings
Representatives from the Minnesota Vikings organization and MV Ventures, which operates the Viking Lakes complex, met with contractors and maintenance staff following the incident to examine the damaged section and review the condition of railings throughout the stadium. The review comes ahead of a full slate of additional high school games scheduled at the venue later this fall.
Neither the Vikings organization nor Eagan police have released a cause for the railing failure, and an inspection of the structure was continuing as of Friday.
CBS News Minnesota · Star Tribune · Hoodline
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