A concrete canopy collapsed Saturday on a group of band students who had gathered outside a North Carolina high school shortly before a competition, leaving 25 people injured, authorities said.
Dr. Howard Bell of Iredell Emergency Medical Services confirmed the injury total to reporters after the awning collapse outside the entrance to North Iredell High School in Olin, about 55 miles north of Charlotte. At least one student was taken to a Winston-Salem hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, authorities said, without elaborating.
Iredell-Statesville Schools spokeswoman Susie Wiberg said the students were standing under the awning as a band competition was about to get started inside the school. Wiberg said a box truck hit one of the canopy supports and the awning then fell, hitting the students underneath it. A driveway leads up to the canopied entrance.
The band competition was canceled.
Emergency personnel remained on the scene late Saturday, dismantling the damaged section of canopy. Band members could be seen inside a high school stairwell staring out of a window and looking down at the debris.
Hours after the accident, the truck remained parked in front of the high school as a Highway Patrol enforcement team inspected it for possible mechanical problems, authorities said. The only evidence of damage to the truck was a mangled section of trim on the top of the cargo section on the right side. The area around the canopy and drive was cordoned off by yellow tape.
