PITTSBURGH — A porch roof collapsed from underneath the feet of some people and onto others below during a St. Patrick’s Day weekend party in Oakland.
Click here for photos from the scene.
Emergency crews were called to the 300 block of Semple Street just before 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
The porch collapsed in the back of the building. A group of people were on top of it partying and a group was partying below.
16 people were taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries. 3 of those people had serious injuries but were in stable condition. The other 13 people had minor injuries. The worst of those injuries was a compound leg fracture.
Police said around 300 to 500 people were at the party.
The rear porch area has been condemned but the rest of the building was not.
Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day weekend and further celebrations, police had one message:
“Party responsibly,” said Pittsburgh Public Information Officer Emily Bourne. “We obviously know there’s beautiful weather out. Everybody across Pittsburgh is enjoying that tonight. There is aging infrastructure across most of Pittsburgh. I would recommend not being on a roof, or over your porch roof partying. Drink responsibly.”
Earlier this evening, UPPD assisted City of Pgh Police in responding to a partial building collapse off campus. Those injured have been transported for care, and we continue to work with the City on this investigation. As a reminder, it is never safe to be on rooftops. pic.twitter.com/36SVbVpOLT
— Pitt Police (@PittPolice) March 14, 2025
Police are not expected to issue any citations tonight.
Pitt Senior Michael Estocian was on the roof when it fell.
“It all just happened in the blink of an eye. The roof collapsed on us,” he said. “In the moment I felt fine. I didn’t feel like it was a risk.”
He says he regrets being there.
“I wish I did not go on the roof.”
Dozens more students were on the porch itself including Ben Dorish and Carlton Gbur.
“The whole thing fell and it like conked me on the head and I fell forward,” Dorish said.
“It came down from the back so it didn’t really fall on me,” Gbur said. “I wouldn’t say it was chaos, more of like ‘whoa, oh my gosh, I can’t believe this is happening.’”
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