Deck collapses on South Attleboro woman

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) - An outdoor deck collapsed Thursday night, right on top of an elderly woman who'd been walking underneath.

It happened at a home on Carrier Avenue. According to her family, 79-year-old Silvina Martins was under the deck when it gave way about 7 p.m.

John Martins, her adult son, who owns the home, had just stepped onto the deck. "The deck just gave out and I rode it on the way down. Luckily I was able to hang on and not get hurt."

Silvina Martins was lying on the ground when family members got to her, and got a large bump on the head in the process, as well as a swollen eye. She was awake and talking after the incident.

Friday morning, yellow caution tape was tied around the area.

Attleboro building inspector Fred Bray told Eyewitness News the deck got detached from the house because it was never properly attached to the home in the first place. One of the support posts had then given way.

The home was built some twenty years ago, and the deck made by Case Construction.

City building inspectors are now trying to spread the word to neighbors to let them know about the potential dangers of their decks.