Gathering with departing Marine turns tragic

[unhappycamper]

Gathering with departing Marine turns tragic
The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Dec 29, 2009 16:15:01 EST

BIDDEFORD, Maine — A group of friends gathered to spend time with a Marine who expects to deploy soon when a deck collapsed Saturday.

The friends gathered to spend time with Jarrell Hughes, 18, who is in the Corps and is expected to deploy to Afghanistan in the coming year, the Portland (Maine) Press Herald reported.

Jeffrey Hughes, Jarrell’s brother, said there was an ominous cracking sound moments before the balcony tumbled from the second-story apartment, hit a pickup and flipped upside down.

Police say three men and two women were injured. Hughes said the injured women were in the special care unit at Maine Medical Center in Portland. He says one man fractured his back and another suffered serious facial injuries.

Biddeford officials are investigating to determine whether the deck met building codes.


Article at: http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_marine_maine_deck_collapse_122909/