Sports

Dallas Cowboys practice facility collapses after thunderstorm

by JeffHuang | May 2, 2009 at 01:36 pm

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The Dallas Cowboys' Valley Ranch practice facility made of an air-supported bubble has collapsed during a thunderstorm.
There are possible injuries with reports saying at least four of the Dallas Cowboy's support staff taken to hospital. The team was undergoing the second of the three day rookie minicamp when the lights started to shake and flicker. Just as everyone was evacuating the building, the roof collapsed.

The Dallas Storm was at an estimate of 64 mph before the Cowboys practice facility roof collapsed.

Irving fire-rescue officials ordered all reporters and team personnel away from the immediate area.

The roof is a large air-supported canopy with aluminum frames covering a regulation 100-yard football field.

2 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Pythiian1

at 16:35 on May 2nd, 2009

According to the Dallas Morning News:

Ten people were transported to the hospital and two more were treated as walk-ins after the Cowboys' indoor facility collapsed today, according to Irving assistant fire chief Rusty Wilson.

At least two of the injuries are considered serious. No further information was released due to privacy laws.

"Right now, I don't think we have anybody who is in a life-threatening situation," said Paul Pepe, the head of emergency medical services for Dallas County.

Pythiian1

at 16:41 on May 2nd, 2009

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a slide series on their newspaper site, here.

Pythiian1

at 16:43 on May 2nd, 2009

Follow-up from UPI news referenced the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported secondary coach Brett Maxie suffered a leg laceration and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was taken to the hospital on a stretcher after he was initially spotted walking around and appeared to be OK.

The newspaper said team scout Chris Hall was one of the front-office members trapped underneath the frame, but he was speaking clearly. The names of the others injured weren't available.

Media members were asked to clear out about 15 minutes after the facility collapsed and the four staffers also were hospitalized.

Pythiian1

at 17:14 on May 2nd, 2009

There was a local CBS 11 sports camera crew, who happened to be present and recorded the event.

A CBS 11 Sports crew was also on the scene during the collapse. Reporter Steve Dennis was just outside the bubble during the incident, and photographer Bret Kelly was actually inside the bubble shooting video.

From another news report:

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, in a TV interview from the Kentucky Derby, said 27 rookies were going through the workout.

"We're lucky no one got electrocuted with all the water in the building," head coach Wade Phillips said. "A couple of players had minor injuries, but they were all right."

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:30 on May 2nd, 2009

Thank you for the additional information, Pythiian1.

JeffHuang

at 02:53 on May 3rd, 2009

Thanks for all the updates Pythiian!

Blue Crush

at 15:44 on May 3rd, 2009

From CBS11TV:

"The most seriously injured, Scouting Assistant Rich Behm, suffered a fractured spine, severing the spinal cord. The team said in a release Sunday Behm is permanently paralized from the waist down and is recovering at Parkland Hospital."