19-Year-Old Student Dies, 2 Others Injured After Column Collapses at Lewis & Clark College

Abigail Adams
·2 min read
LEWIS CLARK A plaque depicting explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark adorns a rock monilith on campus at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., . The chapel is seen at left. With the bicentennial of their 1803-06 expedition approaching, the Lewis and Clark moniker seems to be everywhere LEWIS CLARK BICENTENNIAL PLAQUE, PORTLAND, USA
LEWIS CLARK A plaque depicting explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark adorns a rock monilith on campus at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., . The chapel is seen at left. With the bicentennial of their 1803-06 expedition approaching, the Lewis and Clark moniker seems to be everywhere LEWIS CLARK BICENTENNIAL PLAQUE, PORTLAND, USA

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One student is dead and two others are injured after a column collapsed at an Oregon college the same day the semester began, per multiple reports.

Portland Fire and Rescue said a 19-year-old man and two 18-year-old female classmates were sitting on hammocks at Lewis & Clark College in Portland on Monday when one of the attached masonry columns fell toward them, according to Today and NBC News.

Lewis and Clark College confirmed the incident, writing in a statement that the school is "deeply saddened by the shocking loss" of a student.

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"We are devastated to report that earlier this evening, a tragic accident occurred on the undergraduate campus in which one of our students was killed and two others were injured," the school said.

Monday marked the start of a new semester at Lewis and Clark College, according to the school's website.

The Portland Fire and Rescue Bureau did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

College campus sunny spring green red field mt hood background Portland Oregon
College campus sunny spring green red field mt hood background Portland Oregon

Getty

Emergency officials were alerted to the incident around 8:15 p.m. local time on Monday, according to Today and NBC News.

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Witnesses claimed six people were sitting in three hammocks attached to the columns prior to the collapse, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Fire officials said in a statement that after the incident, "callers reported that one person was seriously injured, and people were performing CPR on him," reported Today and NBC News.

The male victim succumbed to his injuries before an ambulance could reach the scene, per the outlets.

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The two 18-year-old students suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment, Today reported. One sustained injuries to her arm, and the other to her abdominal area, according to the outlet.

Portland Fire and Rescue said the school will take the lead on investigating the incident, according to NBC News.