Heavy snow accumulation on rooftops over the past two weeks continues to wreak havoc on structures throughout the region.
An 8-year-old Neville Island boy was taken to UPMC Children's Hospital today with leg injuries after an icy metal awning collapsed, briefly trapping him underneath.
Ohio Township Sgt. Adam Beck said the boy was using a hockey stick to hit icicles hanging from the awning, which was attached to the side of the house's garage. At around 3:50 p.m., the awning and the ice came crashing down around him, pinning him underneath.
Neville Island volunteer firefighters who lived nearby heard the 911 call and ran to the house, freeing the boy within a couple of minutes, Sgt. Beck said.
About 60 people were evacuated from the Windwood Health and Sports Club in Marshall around 8:30 tonight after someone saw a section of the roof bowing in. Firefighters turned off the utilities in the building, so that if the building collapsed, it would not catch fire.
Marshall fire Chief Scott Sampey said the roof would likely collapse, but was not concerned about the whole building coming down.
Five University of Pittsburgh students were left homeless earlier today when a ceiling collapsed in their Meyran Avenue apartment house, apparently because of the weight of this month's snowfall.
"I went to check it out and all of the furniture [in another room] was covered in insulation and water," said Richard Eisenberger, a 22-year-old Pitt senior from Cambria County.
Alternate living arrangements will have to be made for Mr. Eisenberger and his four roommates.
No injuries were reported.
Around 1 p.m. today, a canopy at a former gas station collapsed at Morewood and Centre avenues in Shadyside.
Though initial reports said someone might have been trapped in the rubble, firefighters and rescuers said no one was injured.
In Fayette County, a barn housing bulls collapsed today, but none of the animals was injured, emergency dispatchers said.
First Published: February 19, 2010, 1:15 a.m.
