Pier collapses at UW-Madison Memorial Union Terrace, sending dozens into Lake Mendota
A pier in Lake Mendota just off the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union Terrace and crowded with between 60 and 80 people collapsed Monday afternoon, causing minor injuries to about two dozen people, police said.
One person was hospitalized with a non-life threatening injury. Five others were treated by paramedics at the scene. The others hurt did not require treatment.
After the collapse, many of those on the pier were able to swim back to shore.
Pier collapse at UW-Madison Memorial Union Terrace. @WKOW reports approx. 25 people with minor injuries. @WISN12News pic.twitter.com/neZSAeA1Bq
— Tanner Kahler (@tannerkahler) September 4, 2023
The pier is owned by the university and was scheduled to be removed for the season on Tuesday, said Officer Jeff Kirchman, of the UW-Madison Police Department.
Kirchman said he didn't have any information as to whether the pier was over capacity. In a statement, UW officials said an investigation will be conducted into the collapse.
Kirchman said in the collapse several people lost items like phones, wallets and keys on the bottom of the lake. People looking to retrieve lost items can email adam.prescott@wisc.edu.
Reporter Kelly Meyerhofer contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pier off UW-Madison's Memorial Union Terrace collapses; dozens injured
