Girl, 13, Trapped After Cottage Grove Home's Deck Collapses

COTTAGE GROVE, MN — A 13-year-old girl was injured and became trapped when a Cottage Grove home's deck collapsed. The second-floor deck collapsed April 27. Cottage Grove Fire EMS responded, along with Cottage Grove police, to a report of a juvenile female trapped underneath a deck which had fallen in the 7400 block of Hyde Avenue S.

When crews arrived, they found the girl had a leg injury. She was transported to the hospital.

Authorities reported that the girl was standing on the deck when it fell. People in house at the time of the incident said they heard a "big bang, and then screaming," police Captain Pete Koerner told the South Washington County Bulletin.

Deck Safety

The average life expectancy of a wooden deck is 10-15 years, according to authorities. Poor construction and maintenance result in deck collapses that cause thousands of injuries across the U.S. each year.

If you are building a deck or have an existing deck, you should know how to evaluate its construction to make sure it's structurally safe and sound.

To be sure that your deck is safe, following the five warning signs:

1. Check your deck for loose connections, corrosion or cracks
2. Ensure that your deck can carry the weight of objects and people placed on it, including the force of Mother Nature
3. Create a path of connections that transfers load through its frame to the ground and support structures, such as your home. A deck with a continuous load path will be better equipped to resist the forces that can weaken your deck.
4. Check for corrosion of metal connectors, screws and nails
5. Regular maintenance and inspection for loose nails and boards, and protection from debris and water and sun damage

Image via Cottage Grove Minnesota Fire-EMS Department