Grosse Pointe Park

Residents injured in balcony collapse

By K. Michelle Moran
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE PARK — A sudden balcony collapse in the 1300 block of Somerset sent two adults to the hospital around 7:12 p.m. Aug. 29.

Public Safety Chief David Hiller said the balcony pulled away from the house and fell on the porch below. There were two adults and two children on the balcony at the time of the collapse, and he said the adults sustained non-life-threatening injuries but still needed to be treated on the scene and transported to local hospitals. The two children on the balcony only sustained minor cuts and bruises, he said.

Park public safety officials are grateful the porch attached to the first-floor unit had no one on it at the time of the balcony accident, Hiller said.

“We’re very lucky no one was hurt seriously,” he said. “Obviously, things could have been a lot worse.”

The house is a two-family dwelling. Hiller said it’s not known why the balcony collapsed, but homes in that neighborhood are more than 60 years old, so it could have been related to the age of the building.

Hiller and the city’s building inspector visited the site the day after the accident, but it will be up to the insurance company to investigate and determine the cause of the collapse, Hiller said. The house itself appeared to be in good order and remains occupied, he said.

Because of the number of people on the balcony at the time, Hiller said Park public safety officers called for a second ambulance unit from Grosse Pointe City.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1047.