Pier at Union Terrace collapses Monday, hospitalizing one, injuring several

A pier collapsed with nearly two dozen  people on it at the Union Terrace on Monday, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. The incident, which occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m., put one person in the hospital and injured several others.

The collapse happened on a portion of the metal pier just east of the stage at the UW–Madison venue and resulted in many people falling into Lake Mendota. The person taken to the hospital had non-life-threatening injuries; five others reported minor injuries that were treated at the scene. UW–Madison Police Officer Jeff Kirchman said “20 or so” had minor injuries.

Around 60–80 people were on the pier when it collapsed, but only those on the pier’s end went into the water. Rescue boats arrived quickly. UW–Madison officials said the swimming area was not staffed by lifeguards at the time of the collapse. The pier is scheduled to be removed Tuesday due to the end of the summer season. The university says it will investigate what occurred.