Chaos ensued at Harvard Graduate School of Education's Larsen Hall when a balcony railing collapsed, sending two people plummeting down 20 feet. The frightening incident occurred amidst a lively block party yesterday, which drew a crowd of over 300 post-graduates celebrating their Class Day ceremonies, as reported by The Harvard Crimson.
First responders rushed to the scene, with an ambulance, four fire trucks from the Cambridge Fire Department, and multiple cars from both the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) and Cambridge Police Department (CPD) arriving urgently to aid the injured. According to CPD spokesperson Robert Goulston, both victims were conscious upon being transported by medics; however, the extent of their injuries was not immediately clear. HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano indicated that they were dealing with a medical situation resulting from injuries.
As the celebration continued at Harvard's Education School campus, the collapse seemed to send only a temporary ripple through the festivities. Witnesses to the accident described hearing screams and witnessing the commotion, yet no formal announcement was made about the incident, and the crowd was subtly redirected away from the collapse site toward Gutman Hall.
The aftermath of the incident was evident, with the broken railing and pieces of glass from a shattered window strewn around the ground level of the building. Security staff, including from Securitas, and HGSE personnel orchestrated the crowd movement, which moved away from the vibes of the DJ booth and food stations that were initially set up outside Larsen Hall. According to attendees who spoke with The Harvard Crimson, despite the fall, the celebration persisted largely unaffected after a brief shift in location.
While the CPD helped with a medical assist report, it was noted that the HUPD was handling the situation as the accident occurred on Harvard property. Details on the condition of the individuals and the results of any investigation into the cause of the railing's failure are awaited as the Harvard community recovers from the shock of the sudden accident.
