PEABODY, Mass. — It was supposed to be a big celebration.
A noontime New Year’s Eve Party for kids at Peabody’s In the Game Arcade
But at the very moment when the colorful balloons were dropped, a stack of big building blocks was pulled down, right on top of the crowd below.
Ten people, some with cuts, suffered minor injuries
Eight of them were sent to local hospitals.
At the time the arcade was packed with dozens of excited children.
Danielle Oblenes was there with her kids and their friends.
“When did you realize something wasn’t right?” I asked.
“Once the staff figured out what was happening, they were trying to get the children away from the area. At that point, the people that were injured were moved over to the side. There was still so much going on, I don’t think people even realized what was happening, because there was organized chaos,” Danielle told me.
Investigators are now looking at videos shot inside the arcade during the party to try to get a better understanding of what happened.
“They were pulling on the balloons. Somehow the plastic structure fell on the crowd that was standing underneath,” said Deputy Peabody Fire Chief Dan Dean.
Danielle Oblenes tells me, the whole thing has left her shaken up.
“You don’t think you’d ever be in these types of situations. And then as it’s happening, you’re not kind of going with it, and not knowing what to do, making sure they are all right.” Daniell said.
The company says it is working with authorities to try to figure out how this accident happened so that it can never happen again.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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