Several people have been injured, with some taken to hospital after a New Year's Eve balloon drop pulled a structure down on a crowd.
Videos by Wide Open Country
To celebrate the coming of the new year at the In the Game arcade in Peabody, MA, an event had been planned including a balloon drop. The large net, holding the balloons, was suspended above a large crowd. However, as the balloons were released, they snagged on a large Lego model above the eager revelers.
As the net containing the balloons pulled back, it dislodged the large arcade-shaped Lego structure. It crashed down on the crowd, breaking apart as it hit them. The height and weight of the Lego model were heavy enough to injure 10 of the people gathered for the balloon drop. According to the footage, it fell around 12 feet onto people below.
Balloon Drop New Year's Eve Accident Caused By The Crowd
Despite the heavy Lego model falling into a crowd, the 10 injuries sustained by the partygoers were all minor. Five of the injured were children, and two of them refused medical attention. They preferred to continue with their night and enjoy the balloon drop party for New Year's Eve.
According to the police chief, who attended the incident, the model fell because people were pulling on the netting containing the balloons. Deputy Fire Chief Dan Dean spoke about the incident. "I don't think they've done it many times before and just, things happen and thankfully it wasn't bad." It was a combination of bad luck and planning.
However, the party continued after the balloon drop accident. One kid spoke to NBC about it all. "I didn't know anybody was hurt until after," 13-year-old Keegan said. "Then I was sort of worried and everybody started clearing out and then an ambulance showed up. And a fire truck. And then the stretcher came out."
The video shows the excitement at the arcade with many kids screaming and jumping around. It would be easy not to notice something like this at the balloon drop New Year's Eve event. It didn't seem to dampen the spirits of others involved, and it's good to know so few were injured. Those that were only suffered minor injuries.
