By Buck Anderson
The Salem News
PEABODY, Mass. — Ten people sustained minor injuries just moments after noon on Tuesday when a display of giant LEGOs fell on them just inside the lobby door of In The Game during an early New Year’s Eve celebration.
The incident, initially reported as a building collapse, brought a swift response of police, firefighters, ambulances and even one helicopter, according to police Lt. Vincent Patermo and Fire Chief Jay Dowling. The extra units quickly dispersed, however, after the extent of the incident became clearer.
Dowling said that none of the 10 people were seriously hurt, but eight of them, including four children, were transported to area hospitals to be treated and checked out.
According to Patermo, a sizable number of people were in the lobby of the games arcade shortly after it opened at noon. In the Game, located at 535 Lowell St., had advertised a New Year’s Eve celebration on social media for during that time.
Patermo said the LEGO display, mounted on a ledge inside and across the width of the double doors, was about 5 feet high, and above the display was a large net filled with balloons.
The plan, said Dowling, was to pull a cord to open the net and release the balloons, which would then drift down on the newly arrived crowd.
However, the cord failed to release the balloons, and when an employee jerked at it again to free the knot and release them, the cord apparently caught on the giant LEGOs display, pulling it and the balloons down on the crowd.
Fortunately, said Dowling, the injuries consisted largely of cuts, scratches and abrasions.
In the Game did not immediately return phone calls for comment Tuesday afternoon.
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