Ga. students injured in inflatable slide collapse
Oct 19, 2013, 12:10 AM
LAGRANGE, Ga. (AP) – More than a dozen fifth graders were injured when a 24-foot inflatable slide collapsed Friday afternoon at their Georgia elementary school, authorities said.
Troup County Sheriff’s Deputy Stewart Smith said emergency crews were called to Rosemont Elementary School in LaGrange about 12:40 p.m. and that authorities reported 19 children had been injured.
Officials said two children were airlifted to a hospital in Atlanta, seven others were taken to West Georgia Medical Center and the rest were treated at the scene. All students had been released from the hospital by Friday evening.
School officials said the group had been participating in an “Accelerated Reader Celebration” in the gymnasium when the slide collapsed. Officials were investigating what happened.
“We care about our children. They are our priority, and we are deeply saddened by this unfortunate accident,” school Superintendent Cole Pugh said in a statement.
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