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The deck had rotting wood which appeared to have been painted over, Boston police officers wrote after the Brighton incident.
A person walked across the Boston College campus. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe
Two Boston College students were injured at a house party in Brighton last weekend after a piece of deck railing broke off causing the pair to fall from the second floor, police said.
On Saturday evening, Boston police responded to an incident at 64 Undine Road involving a “serious injury,” the department said.
The officers found a man and a woman receiving medical attention from first responders, police wrote in an incident report.
Prior to the incident, there was a small party held in the backyard of the home where attendees were “consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking,” BPD said.
All of those involved were BC students, the incident report said.
The deck is situated on the second floor of the home and has ten steps that connect the backyard to the kitchen, police said.
During the event, the students would frequently use the deck to retrieve more food and beer from the kitchen, police said.
At the time of the incident, the two victims were “conversing and holding drinks” on the egress when they leaned against the railing, BPD said.
A large chunk — estimated to be six to eight feet long — of railing snapped off “without warning,” causing the students to lose their balance and fall onto the concrete below, police said.
Both landed on the back of their heads and spine with “significant force,” officers wrote.
The man suffered an injury to the back of his head and was bleeding a small amount. Later, he experienced significant pain to his back and neck, BPD said.
The incident report did not mention the status of the woman.
Officers investigated the railing and portions of the deck and noticed rotting wood and “short corroded nails,” police said.
The wood appeared to be painted over, which may have concealed the extent of the damage, police said.
The two victims were transported to local hospitals for further evaluation and treatment, BPD said.
A city inspector arrived at the location to assess the safety of the building.
The incident remains an ongoing investigation.
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