Students at the University of Pittsburgh got Saint Patrick’s Day weekend started on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, the Semple Street block party quickly turned perilous when a roof collapsed.
16 people were transported to the hospital for medical attention but they are all expected to recover.
According to eyewitnesses, approximately 500 people gathered in the courtyard behind Semple Street to celebrate the Irish holiday with plenty of green beer and Guinness. It is one of the rowdiest weekends at Pitt, with the sun staying out longer and the weather changing from winter to spring. Parties go for at least three-straight days on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of St. Patty’s weekend.
However, the party on Friday came to an early end on account of 9-1-1.
I was on the roof. I was kind of standing near the ledge, and we were just having a fun time and, all of a sudden, all of this happened in, like, a blink of an eye. The roof just collapsed on us. There were so many people on there to begin with, so looking back at it now, I probably should have just stayed with the people not on the roof.
— Michael Estocin, via WISN 12
The roof collapse took place in the 300 block of Semple Street shortly before 5:30 p.m. It landed on top of a number of students who were on the porch below the roof. It also fell outward onto people standing in the middle of the courtyard. This is the only video of the incident:
BREAKING: A porch roof collapsed during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Semple Street. This is a developing story. pic.twitter.com/Axr2YXGPV9
— The Pitt News (@ThePittNews) March 14, 2025
Action News 4 also shared the following overhead look at the aftermath:
Public Safety officials said the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections was on scene and did condemn the rear porch, but not the unit or the structure itself.
There were a number of young adults who were on top of the roof of the porch, as well as other young adults who were on the porch itself, when this porch collapsed from the weight of all of these individuals
— Emily Bourne, a spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety
Three of the 16 people transported to area hospitals were in serious but stable condition. Injuries ranged from leg and arm contusions to concussions. Some of the students involved in the collapse had to be removed from the courtyard in a stretcher. Others were able to walk away with just a scratch.
As serious as this incident was, I am grateful that it was not much worse. There were no fatalities. Everybody is expected to be okay.
These kinds of roof parties likely took place every weekend at Pitt, but they obviously will not continue. City officials are going to monitor activity on Semple Street to ensure this does not happen again.