Deck Collapse Injures Eight

A second-story deck collapse on Martha’s Vineyard over the July 4th holiday sent eight people to a local hospital. Police were called to a private home in Edgartown, Mass., at about 9 p.m. July 4 after a deck holding some 20 people collapsed. Eight of them were hurt. Most were treated and released, although one person was flown to a hospital in Boston for treatment. Frank Woeste, a retired professor at Virginia Tech University, says there has been an “epidemic” of deck collapses at oceanfront properties in recent years, underscoring the importance of annual inspections. Improper fasteners and inadequate ledger connections are two common problems. Read More