The horrific moment that a toy block display collapsed and hit multiple people during a New Year’s Eve party at a Massachusetts arcade was captured on camera.
‘In The Game’ on Lowell Street in Peabody was hosting a ‘Noon Year’s Eve celebration’ on Tuesday afternoon, according to their Facebook page.
But when the employees were trying to conduct the colorful balloon drop for the event, a toy display toppled onto the young spectators.
The plastic bricks fell about 12 feet onto the crowd, resulting in minor injuries for 10 people, Peabody Fire Chief John Dowling told Boston 25 News.
Eight people were taken to local hospitals, and two declined to go. The ages of the victims are unknown, but images showed children and parents in the crowd.
Footage from WHDH showed multiple ambulances outside the center escorting several people out of the building on stretchers.
Attendees also shared a video of the moment the display collapsed onto a crowd of families, who were eagerly waiting for the deluge of bright balloons to fall.
‘New Years 2024… Hopefully this isn’t an indication of what the year 2025 is. Everyone is fine… little blood,’ one witness said on Facebook.
When the employees were trying to conduct the balloon drop for the event, a toy block display fell onto spectators
Multiple ambulances outside In The Game on Lowell Street in Peabody after a display collapsed
Lawren Turco, who attended the event with her family, told WBZ-TV the scene was chaotic.
‘We watched the entire balloon drop 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.’
According the arcade website, the event was sold out. It included 60 minutes of unlimited game play, 300 prize tickets, a bubbly sparkling juice toast at Noon, souvenirs, a balloon drop, confetti shower and party favors.
- This article has been revised since initial publication to remove references to the blocks having been manufactured by ‘Lego’. We are happy to clarify that this was not the branding of the toy bricks in question.
