New Castle decks condemned after fall

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- New Castle County officials have now condemned more than 130 decks at the Stonebridge Apartments in New Castle, Delaware.

This action follows Monday's collapse of one deck that injured 51-year-old Marian Johnson who was standing on it when it gave way.

"I could have lost my mother yesterday. I'm just happy she's alive," Marian's daughter Jeanette Bivins said.

The fall sent Marian to the hospital.

"We were having a cookout, just a small gathering, and she said she went to step out on the deck and it just went down. It just gave way," Bivins said.

The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Monday at the apartments on the 2000 block of Stonebridge Boulevard.

Neighbor Wallace Chase watched the 25-year-old structure, which was only nailed, not lag bolted to the building, fall under the weight of just one person.

"When she stepped out, it came straight down with her on it. I seen her hit once, but a couple other people said she hit the deck at least two more times then bounced outward," Chase said.

Residents were advised by the landlord not to use their decks on Tuesday, though not everyone seem to have gotten the message as the Action Cam spotted some residents out on their deck.

New Castle County Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi along with housing inspectors looked at some of the remaining decks.

Grimaldi was asked would he walk on one of the aging wooded structures.

"I would not, no. That really is the test. We have to protect these citizens, so we are strongly considering condemnation," Grimaldi said.

In a statement, the manager of the Stonebridge Apartments says they are working on a solution to reinforce the decks.