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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — More than 50 people were injured early Sunday when the floor collapsed during a party at a northwest Florida apartment building, authorities said.
No one died when the floor collapsed just after 1:20 a.m. in the clubhouse at the Seminole Grand Apartments, said Tallahassee police spokeswoman Anitra Highland.
Highland told the Tallahassee Democrat (http://on.tdo.com/RN3xMb) that most of the injuries were broken bones and sprains. She said a dozen people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
A woman who lives across the street from the building said she heard screaming and saw bloodied and injured people piled on top of each other as police rushed to rope off the scene.
"You couldn't help but hear it," Mary Milton said. "I have never seen so many police in my life."
The floor's collapse dropped partygoers from a four-bedroom, second-floor apartment into the complex's first-floor clubhouse, city officials said. At least 100 people were at the party, the Tallahassee Fire Department said. Seven people had to be helped out by ladder because a staircase was blocked, said fire department spokesman Mike Bellamy.
Florida A&M University student Queen Davis lost her right shoe and her keys in the collapse. She had come to the party with a friend who was taken to a hospital.
"It was like riding a roller coaster with no seat belts," said Davis, a 19-year-old junior, adding that she tried to hang onto a couch as the floor fell through.
"Imagine you're just with your friends partying and next you're wondering if you're going to make it out of there," she said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the floor to collapse. City Manager Michelle Bono said building inspectors were on the scene.
The Democrat reports that the Leon County Sheriff's Office, Leon County EMS and the Tallahassee police and fire departments responded to the scene.
The Seminole Grand complex was built in 1995 and is comprised of nearly 40 buildings on 44 acres.
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Information from: Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat, http://www.tdo.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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