Dozens hurt at house party as room over garage collapses Emergency workers, Katy neighbors help at religious gathering

About 150 people had gathered at the home on Park Mill Drive in Katy Thursday, where a room over the garage, rear, collapsed under the weight of 40 people, injuring at least three dozen. Emergency workers tended to scores at the scene. less About 150 people had gathered at the home on Park Mill Drive in Katy Thursday, where a room over the garage, rear, collapsed under the weight of 40 people, injuring at least three dozen. Emergency workers ... more Photo: Cody Duty, Staff Photo: Cody Duty, Staff Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Dozens hurt at house party as room over garage collapses 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

Three dozen people were injured Thursday when the second story of a garage collapsed at a Katy home where a crowd had gathered for a religious ceremony, officials and neighbors said.

As many as 150 people gathered for the festivities at the home on Park Mill Drive, just west of George Bush Park, when a room above the garage collapsed about 1:30 p.m., officials with the West I-10 Fire Department said.

About 40 people were in a 600-square-foot room above the garage when the floor collapsed, said Tim Thomas, public information officer for the fire department.

"Those structures are typically not built for that many people," Thomas said. "It was like a game room, with some nice wood floor in there and altar."

Neighbors and attendants gathered on the sidewalks as 15 ambulances treated the injuries. The Houston Fire Department brought its mass casualty evacuation ambulance, designed to transport up to nine people on stretchers.

HPD senior Capt. Ruy Lozano described the inside of the garage structure as "pancaked."

"The floor gave way," he said. "It looked like it bowed."

Of the three dozen taken to hospitals, three were considered urgent, Thomas said. Most had cuts and abrasions.

All in good condition

Twenty-seven were taken to Memorial Hermann, hospital officials said. All but two were later released. Their conditions were not available.

People at the party refused to comment.

Neighbors Jill and Blake Allred said they rushed from their home a block over when they heard ambulances shortly after 1 p.m.

"When we first got here, everybody was running around, asking neighbors for ice and water," Blake Allred said.

Wednesday, neighbors learned about the family's plan to throw a party when the son went door to door delivering a letter explaining what to expect.

'Don't deserve this'

Leticia Sahagun-Rubio lives across the street from the house.

"It was such a nice letter," she said. "I feel bad. They don't deserve this.

"This is the only party they've ever had," said Sahagun-Rubio, who has lived on the street off and on for 15 years. She said the party was a religious ceremony with a reception to be held elsewhere.

She said people of all ages, including toddlers and elderly, came from the house.

Neighbor Linda Rossman added, "I saw family members carrying each other out."

Reporters Dale Lezon, Carol Christian and Bobby Blanchard contributed to this report.