College homecoming party turns to chaos as deck collapses, leaving at least 28 people injured
Deck Collapse at Homecoming Party Injures 28 in Williamsburg, VA
A back‑deck failure during a college homecoming celebration on Friday night sent 28 people to the hospital and left a neighborhood in shock. The incident occurred at an off‑campus residence on the 200 block of Matoaka Court in Williamsburg, Virginia, and prompted a rapid response from local police, firefighters, and medical crews.
The collapse was reported to dispatch at 10:07 p.m. Friday. Responders found the deck had collapsed onto the house’s rear yard, injuring guests who had gathered for the party. According to city officials, all injuries were non‑life‑threatening. In a Saturday update, the city said emergency crews transported 13 injured individuals to hospitals. Fifteen others sought medical attention on their own.
“At least nine ambulances kind of wrapped around the street,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. “We saw a lot of hospital gurneys coming out of ambulances. All the way down the street and wrapped around just ambulances and fire trucks.” The neighbor described a scene of ambulances and fire trucks converging on the street, a testament to the scale of the emergency.
The party, a homecoming event organized by students from the College of William & Mary, was underway when the deck gave way. William & Mary confirmed that students were among those injured. Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Public Safety, Ginger Ambler, addressed the campus community on Saturday, noting the university was still collecting details. “We are grateful that none of the injuries were life‑threatening,” Ambler wrote. She added that university staff in health, academic, and student support offices were working to assist affected students, acknowledging the incident could have lasting emotional impacts.
Joshua Wise, a resident next to the house, described how the aftermath unfolded. “Word was traveling pretty fast,” he told the local news outlet WAVY. “By the time I got back here, the emergency response was over, but I had a housemate who was helping people, trying to help out as much as possible, drive people home, get people where they needed to be.” Wise praised the community’s response, saying, “We did everything we could to help each other out and I think that’s beautiful.”
Wise also lauded the emergency responders. “Thank goodness for the emergency responders,” he said. “They were great. The ambulances and everything got here pretty fast.”
City officials are coordinating with local hospitals to confirm the total number of people who received treatment. Meanwhile, the Williamsburg Codes Compliance Division has begun evaluating and inspecting the site to determine the cause of the deck’s failure and to ensure the structure meets safety standards.
The incident has sparked conversations about building inspections and safety regulations for off‑campus student housing. While the exact cause of the deck collapse remains under investigation, authorities have ruled out any external factors such as weather or vandalism.
Residents of the neighborhood expressed relief that no serious injuries were reported. “It’s scary to think something like that could happen in our own backyard,” said a local homeowner. “We’re grateful the emergency response was so quick.”
William & Mary’s student community is still coming to terms with the event. Ambler’s message emphasized the university’s commitment to student well‑being, stating, “We recognize that such an experience may affect our students deeply and in different ways.”
The Williamsburg Police Department and local fire service will continue to assist victims and monitor the area until the investigation is complete. The city has urged anyone with additional information or concerns about building safety to contact the Codes Compliance Division.
For now, the community is focused on healing and ensuring such an incident never happens again.
