Dozens Injured After Deck Collapse at Golf Club in Billings

Nearly 30 patients were received by the St. Vincent Healthcare Emergency Department following a deck collapse at the Briarwood Country Club in Billings, Montana on Saturday.

Angela Babcock, a spokeswoman for Intermountain Health, says most of the 29 patients were treated and released. Some arrived via ambulance, while others were transported in personal vehicles.

One patient who was receiving care at Billings Clinic, Mikel Garcia, told KTVQ-TV he suffered a broken tailbone and was set to get surgery on Monday. He credited the swift response from first responders.

Garcia: Like I said, I just fell 14 feet with 40 of my friends, and it just seemed like everything ran smoothly and I think that's huge.

As the Billings Gazette reported:

First responders received a “mass casualty” alert at about 7:50 p.m. when the deck on the Bunker Bar and Grill collapsed.

According to information compiled by Victoria Hill with the City of Billings, 250 people were registered for the weekend golf tournament at Briarwood. Units across the city responded to the event. (Read Victoria's full summary below)

American Medical Response had 11 units respond to the scene. Laurel Emergency Medical Services also responded with two ambulances, the Lockwood Fire District arrived at the scene with one ambulance, and St. Vincent Healthcare’s HELP Flight had two ground units respond.

The story also is getting national attention over the weekend. Here's the NBC News report:

Here's the full summary sent out late Saturday night by Victoria Hill with the City of Billings: 

An emergency call was received at 7:50 p.m. for a collapsed deck at the Black Bunker Bar and Grill at the Briarwood Golf Club, 3429 Briarwood Blvd.

A total of 25 people were transported from the scene via ambulance. Patients were taken to both local hospitals in Billings.

No one was fatally or critically wounded. Injuries included head wounds and other bodily injuries.

American Medical Response had 11 units respond to the scene. Laurel Emergency Medical Services also responded with two ambulances, the Lockwood Fire District arrived at the scene with one ambulance, and St. Vincent Healthcare’s HELP Flight had two ground units respond.

The first ambulance arrived at the scene at 8 p.m.

The most severely injured victims were transported from the scene within the first 30 minutes and the last ambulance left the scene at 8:54 p.m.

Eight patients were treated at the scene and released.

An unknown number of people walked away from the scene without requesting medical attention, so at this time it is unclear how many people were on the deck when it collapsed.

All patients were adults.

Extrication was not needed to free victims from the debris of the collapsed deck.

The Billings Fire Department had 11 units respond to the incident.

The Billings Police Department had 12 units on scene and officers assisted with guiding patients, crowd control and directing traffic.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office also directed traffic.

The golf club was hosting a tournament with 250 people registered.