Crowded Cabin Porch Collapses; 20-25 Guests Injured

Ruidoso police and Lincoln County authorities plan to investigate what caused a porch to give way with around 20 people on it.

KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports the porch collapsed during a social gathering late Saturday night.

The Ruidoso fire chief says the people fell 20 to 25 feet. The fire chief says it initially appears too many people were on the porch, causing it to collapse.

A woman at a home next door told the Ruidoso News she thought too many people were on the porch.

“We were observing them, commenting that it looked unsafe, too crowded,” said Karen Reeder. She explained a man in her group walked up to the gathering next door and warned them of the danger, telling them the deck looked unsafe.

“They made fun of him and laughed,” Reeder told the Ruidoso News.

Reeder said later there was a horrendous noise and the realization that that the sound was the deck falling.

“When the deck collapsed, it was already dark and the responders had to deal with debris, people on the ground, disoriented guests who were wandering aimlessly, lost,” Reeder said.

To read the full story from the Ruidoso News, click here.