High School Gym Roof Collapse

The roof of a high school gymnasium collapsed Friday, slightly injuring three students on a running track.

The three East High School students, ages 14 and 15, had "fairly minor" injuries, school district spokesman Bill Wendling said. In addition, one adult needed treatment for shortness of breath and one required treatment for a diabetic reaction, he said.

"I thought it was an earthquake," said Victor Leonard, 17, a 12th-grader. He was in a nearby classroom when ceiling tiles began falling.

The collapse happened just before noon amid gusty winds, but there was no immediate indication what caused the collapse. The area had been hit by heavy rain over the past two days.

The school was evacuated and students were sent home for the day. The building will remain closed for the weekend while the cause of the collapse is investigated, Wendling said.

Video shot from a WJW-TV helicopter showed the roof of the octagonal gym collapsed inside the building. From the street level, the top level of bricks on the gym facade had fallen away.

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