SMITHFIELD, RI — Six people were hurt when a building collapsed Tuesday morning at Bryant University– which is about 20 miles away from the the Connecticut border in Rhode Island.
Six people were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, police said. The victims fell about 30 feet and were under the structure when rescue crews arrived, police said.
Police said a 9-1-1 call of a building collapse came in around 8:30 a.m.
The building is a indoor sports facility that was under construction.
The school is in the town of Smithfield, Rhode Island. Classes are scheduled to begin Sept. 8 at the school.
Elizabeth O’Neil, Bryant Universitiy assistant vice president of University Relations, issued the following statement:
As you have no doubt already learned, a serious construction site accident occurred this morning at the indoor practice facility, located in the back of the Bryant campus adjacent to the baseball fields.
The steel which was being erected collapsed forward, resulting in at least six injuries. Thankfully, none of these appear to be life-threatening. No Bryant students or staff were near the site.
We are cooperating fully with authorities and will advise as more facts become available to us.
This incident will have no impact on the opening of school as students return this weekend and classes begin Sept. 8.
