Four high school students are recovering from their injuries after the bleachers collapsed during a recent football game.
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The incident occurred this past Saturday (October 4). During a matchup between New Jersey high schools Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic High School. Bergen Catholic students were understandably crazed after pulling off an upset win over their longtime rivals. Amid the celebration, a railing on the bleachers malfunctioned, causing the entire structure to collapse in a wild scene.
Bleachers Collapse After High School Football Upset
Thankfully, no major injuries or fatalities were reported. However, four students suffered minor injuries, according to multiple reports.
Bergen Catholic High School President Brian Mahoney issued a statement following the incident. In the statement, he reassured families of the school's commitment to safety. He said that the incident was the result of a metal fence surrounding the structure being "compromised."
"Bergen Catholic is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our students, families, staff, and supporters at all school-sponsored events," Mahoney said in a statement (via the New York Post). "At the conclusion of the Bergen Catholic Don Bosco Prep football game, a portion of the metal fence between the track and bleachers was compromised, causing the outside railing to come loose and the fence to collapse. Thankfully, only four students sustained minor injuries and did not require medical attention.
He also confirmed that the bleacher structure is "inspected annually." He said that additional testing will take place following the incident.
"The bleachers are inspected annually, and we will conduct a second thorough inspection of the bleachers and surrounding structures to ensure they can safely be used for future events," the statement adds.
"The safety and well-being of our students and community remain our highest priority."
Bergen Catholic has one more home game scheduled for Saturday (October 11) before playing the next two games on the road.
