9 injured after deck collapses as group was taking birthday party photo at Georgia home

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. — Nine people were taken to the hospital after officials say a deck packed with people collapsed on Sunday.

Liberty County Fire Chief Brain Darby told Channel 2′s ABC affiliate WJCL-TV in Savannah that people were gathering at a home on Cattle Hammock Road in Midway for a birthday party.

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When the group posed for a photo, the deck collapsed, causing victims to fall an estimated 15 feet.

Darby told WJCL that nine people had to be taken to the hospital, including one who suffered a compound fracture.

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The identities of the victims have not been released, but WJCL spoke with Paul Barnett, who says he was there celebrating his cousin’s 70th birthday.

“There was about 12 or 15 of us on the deck taking a group picture and when we all got situated the deck collapsed.”

Barnett said he is happy that everyone survived.

“My little grandson was with us. He don’t have a mark on him.”

The official cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

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