A New Year’s Eve celebration at an arcade in Peabody, Massachusetts, took a dangerous turn after a Lego display collapsed, injuring multiple individuals.
The Peabody Police Department confirmed that the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at the “In the Game” arcade, which was hosting a special “Noon Year’s Eve” event.
The event, aimed at providing a family-friendly celebration for those with young children, was abruptly interrupted when a 12-foot-tall Lego display, designed to hold balloons for the event’s balloon drop, fell onto the crowd.
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Peabody Fire Chief John Dowling provided more details to Fox News Digital, confirming that the department received a call about a ceiling collapse shortly after noon.
Upon arrival, however, crews determined that it was not a ceiling collapse but rather the Lego display itself that had fallen.
The display, which had been positioned on a mezzanine level, collapsed onto a group of attendees just as the balloons were intended to be released.
Dowling explained that it appeared the display had fallen after a person pulled too hard on it during the balloon drop, causing it to topple.
The incident left 10 individuals with minor injuries. Eight of those injured were transported to the hospital, while two others refused medical treatment.
According to Dowling, the injured included both adults and children, with the majority sustaining cuts and scrapes.
Lawren Turco, who was at the event with her family, described the scene as “pure chaos” to WBZ-TV.
“We watched the entire balloon drop and had no idea anything happened until we were going to leave promptly following the balloon drop,” she said.
“Large Lego pieces were everywhere, kids were crying, there were tons of people all in the office, some with ice packs over their heads and people allowing their children to steal the Lego pieces like souvenirs. It was pure chaos. I had no idea of the true events until after the incident.”
In the aftermath of the accident, the arcade temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.
However, the arcade was reopened shortly after the incident, once authorities ensured the situation was under control.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of large-scale decorations at family-oriented events, particularly those involving children.
The arcade has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the collapse, but authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.
The Peabody Police Department has confirmed that they are reviewing the incident, and it remains unclear whether any charges will be filed in connection with the collapse.
As the investigation continues, local authorities are reminding event organizers of the importance of ensuring that all displays and decorations are securely installed to prevent accidents.
Meanwhile, the families affected by the incident are recovering from the unexpected disruption to their New Year’s Eve celebrations.
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