Industry news
US ice rink roof collapse probed
Posted Mon, 15 Feb 2010
Authorities are investigating after a massive section of the roof at a US skating rink collapsed during a youth hockey tournament.
No-one was injured in the incident at the Rostraver Ice Garden, about 30 miles south east of Pittsburgh. It occurred while the rink was being resurfaced.
Witnesses at the site said they heard a crack shortly before a 100 foot-by-200 foot section of the roof dropped. The building resembles a large aircraft hangar and also has banquet and meeting rooms.
The hockey teams were in the locker rooms at the time and the only person on the ice was a worker who was smoothing the rink's surface using a Zamboni vehicle, said Rostraver Central assistant chief Justin Shawley.
Emergency teams at the site searched the damaged building using cadaver dogs and thermal-imaging cameras before declaring that everyone was safe. The cause of the collapse is not yet known.
Kim Little, a line cook in the rink's restaurant, said: "The whole roof just fell in, and you could see the sky."
A birthday party was also taking place in the building at the time, she said.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
US Department of Labor