Backyard deck collapse injures six

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Six people were transported to the hospital after a deck collapses in northwest Austin.

A spokesperson for the Austin Fire Department said a home's backyard deck collapsed around 7:25 p.m. in the 5300 block of Doe Valley Lane . 

The homeowner was hosting a pool party when the accident happened.

According to Sgt. David Bailey with the AFD, approximately 12 to 20 people were on the two-story deck at the time of the accident. The wooden deck encloses a swimming pool and is around 400 square feet.

When the deck toppled to the ground, some individuals hit the ground but others slipped down a ravine.

"From the level of the swimming pool to the first grade was probably an 18 feet fall and the ravine continues downhill for another 15 to 20 feet," said Bailey.

Emergency responders said the hardest part was getting to the patients that were down the ravine.

"The ground was loose and there was loose dirt," said Mark Montgomery with Austin Travis County EMS.

ATCEMS ended up transporting six patients -- wo of which had serious injuries -- the other four individuals were transported with minor injuries. Numerous other party goers had injuries but those individuals only needed minor first aid treatment.