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May 2, 2009 6:21 pm US/Central
Cowboys' Practice Field Roof Collapses; 12 Hurt
IRVING (CBS 11 News / AP) ―
An air-supported bubble that covers a practice field at the Dallas Cowboys facility in Valley Ranch collapsed during a strong thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon.
Irving authorities say 12 people were hurt, two of them seriously.
The CBS 11 Storm Team said the Valley Ranch area was experiencing 60-65 mph winds at the time of the collapse. Saturday night the National Weather Service said the winds reached 70 mph and straight line winds likely caused the collapse.
The entire Dallas Cowboys coaching staff was inside the bubble at the time, as well as 27 players who were participating in an offseason practice.
An ambulance arrived at the scene and emergency medical technicians were seen entering portions of the bubble that were still standing. Initial reports from ambulance dispatchers indicated more than 50 people injured, but that number was quickly revised downward.
Those hurt include members of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff and sports reporters.
Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said four team support staff members were injured and all players and coaches were accounted for. He didn't know the extent of the injuries of the four, who he said were hospitalized.
Special teams Coach Joe DeCamillis was seen putting on a neck brace and being taken out of the team's main office building on a stretcher. DeCamillis' father-in-law, longtime NFL Coach Dan Reeves, told the Associated Press DeCamillis would also need surgery for broken vertebrae.
Steve Dennis reported Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm was also being treated at a local hospital for a fractured vertebrae.
CBS 11 video shows lights flickering and shaking minutes before the collapse, prompting players, coaches, staff members and reporters to vacate the building. Several people were trying to exit the facility as the roof came down.
A CBS 11 Sports crew was also on the scene during the collapse. Reporter Steve Dennis was just outside the bubble during the incident, and photographer Bret Kelly was actually
inside the bubble shooting video.
Chopper 11 was over the scene just after the collapse.
Video shows the practice structure nearly flattened, with pieces of aluminum scattered amongst the debris. The aluminum was used to support the bubble. Its collapse was responsible for several of the injuries.
Irving fire and rescue officials ordered all reporters and team personnel away from the immediate area while the incident was assessed.
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(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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