BREAKING NEWS: Bleacher collapses at baseball park; 7 hurt

BY PETE WICKLUND
Journal Times staff

Friday, May 16, 2008 11:34 PM CDT

YORKVILLE — Seven people were injured — none believed to be seriously hurt — after the top deck of a bleacher collapsed Friday at a baseball and sofball complex.

Racine County Sheriff’s deputies and Union Grove-Yorkville firefighters were called at 7:08 p.m. to Stix Sports and Recreation, 3400 S. Sylvania Ave. after the sudden collapse, a reason for which was not known Friday night.

Initial reports had as many as eight people injured, with some complaining of back or neck pain.

Tim Allen, assistant fire chief of the Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Dept., said five of the injured were transported to local hospitals for treatment of injuries. Allen said two people declined treatment at the scene, with one of those saying they would take their self to the hospital.

Sturtevant and Mount Pleasant fire ambulances assisted Union Grove crews in transporting the injured.

The bleachers had five rows and it was the top one, which had a back rail that was affected. That top row was approximately 5 feet off the ground.

There were conflicting reports as to how many people were in the bleachers in total at the time.

The sports facility, located just south of Highway 11 and west of Interstate 94, was hosting a fundraising 11-12 year-old tournament for Metro Milwaukee Sports youth baseball.

On the field where the bleachers were located, the Boys of Summer Select from Mequon were leading the Racine Cobras 12-1 in the fifth inning of a six-inning game.

“We were going out of the dugout after we made an out then we heard a bang and then the back of the bench fell backwards and people fell backwards,” said Eric Wade, 12, the second baseman for Boys of Summer Select. “It was pretty loud.”

Photos show the top row appeared to have collapsed at the west end of the top row and it bent downward and in.

The game was called after the incident with the win going to BOSS, but tournament play continued on other diamonds. Unconfirmed reports Friday night said the back row of all bleachers in the complex would be roped off for games today.

Jeff LeMay and Dave Paul, proprietors of Stix, said they were not on scene when the incident happened and were trying to figure out what happened.

In past years the complex has gone by the names of Fielder’s Choice and Shane Rawley sports complex, named for the former major league pitcher from Racine.

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