Accident at Union raises safety concerns
Monday evening a student fell from the third floor ledge at Union Building East to the middle second floor staircase after losing his balance. Still conscious after the fall, he was transported to Las Palmas Medical Center.
October 14, 2013
Monday evening, a student and pledge for the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity fell from the third floor balcony at Union Building East to the middle second floor staircase.
The accident occurred approximately at 8 p.m. during the Greek life meetings.
According to John Serna, senior mechanical engineering major and president of AKL, the student was sitting on the ledge and lost his balance.
“He just leaned back a little too far, but there was no rough play,” Serna said. “I think this is quite the safety hazard. I mean if you look at it (the ledge), it’s what, two to three feet?”
Serna has seen students sitting on the ledges around the Union and is surprised that something like this has not happened before.
He believes that fixing the ledge to avoid future accidents is something the Union needs to consider.
Witnesses said the student was still conscious after the fall.
Paramedics and the university police responded and the student was taken to Las Palmas Medical Center.
The victim’s name was withheld.
Check theprospectordaily.com for story updates.
Lorain Watters and Kristopher Rivera may be reached at [email protected].
Samantha • Oct 19, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Some people wouldn’t think anythign of sitting there. If its open, nothing is preventing anyone else from sitting. Those ledges aren’t safe at all! Sitting on them or not, accidents can still happen. What if someone is just standing nearby and gets bumped into or happens to trip? They could jsut as easily go off and not have been doing anything wrong. Something needs to be done to make the Union’s 2nd and 3rd floors safer to be on. We attend a highly geared towards engineers university. I’m sure they can come up with something to amend this issue.
Bon Ice • Oct 15, 2013 at 2:12 PM
So we are to blame the university because he could not keep his balance while seating on the ledge… maybe now they want a safety net. They should just put a sign “This is not a seat / chair; Sit at your own risk”
Krystal • Oct 16, 2013 at 1:11 PM
There is a sign tha says do not sit on the ledge
Joe Fernandez • Oct 15, 2013 at 11:25 AM
” Serna has seen students sitting on the ledges around the Union and is surprised that something like this has not happened before. He believes that fixing the ledge to avoid future accidents is something the Union needs to consider.”
How about some good old fashioned common sense and good judgement. Rowenta puts a warning on their steam irons. “Do not iron clothes while wearing”. Why is such a thing needed? Because at some point, someone got burned trying to iron clothes while wearing them !
This country has totally gone to crap, and this dumbass kid is no exception to what is wrong! Glad he is ok though!
Luis Hernandez • Oct 22, 2013 at 9:51 AM
So I’m some dumbass kid for falling and almost dying. The doctors said a fall like that could easily kill anyone. Yes it was my fault. But dont be an insensitive ass and calling me a dumbass for falling. I want to see you make the same fall and survive. You dont know the pain I went through. And I never once said “fix these ledges so it doesnt happen again” its expensive and the school isnt at fault. But where I fell from there was no sign that said “do not sit” a simple sign would be enough for me. But its in the past. And yes I survived with minimal damage and only 9 staples on my head.