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Williamston
Enterprise Your very own newspaper serving Williamston, Webberville & eastern Ingham County for 139 years
Vol. 139 - No. 35
TM
© 2011 Lansing Community Newspapers
www.WilliamstonEnterprise.com
October 30, 2011
Schools probe cause of fatal wall collapse Ken Palmer
| kpalmer@lsj.com
WILLIAMSTON - School officials were assuring parents that district buildings are safe as investigators tried to determine the cause of a wall collapse that killed a 14-year-old boy at the high school on Wednesday. It might be awhile before that determination is made, they indicated. “Obviously, we’re going to bring some folks in to look at it, and it’s going to be several days - or even weeks - before we have a final answer,” said Steve Cook, finance director for Williamston Community Schools. “We want to assure parents that we believe our facilities are safe. We’re treating this as a tragic accident, and that’s what we believe it is.” Gabriel Corbett, 14, was doing chin-ups on the cement-block wall about 4:30 p.m. when it crumbled and fell onto him, police Chief Bob Young said. Another boy who was in the locker room at the time tried to help the victim but had to seek help, Young said. Classes were held as usual on Thursday, when teachers at the high school and middle school allowed students to discuss their feelings during first hour, school officials said in a letter posted on the district’s Website. Counselors also were made available, they said.
Williamston ninth grader Amelia Berg reaches high to stick a tribute to Gabe Corbett on a hallway memorial display at Williamston High School last Thursday. GREG DERUITER\LSJ The high school, which opened in 1990 and had more facilities added in 1997 and 2007, has two boys locker rooms, Cook said. The locker room where the wall collapsed was built in 1990, he said. Police and school officials declined to discuss why the wall, which was attached to lockers and did not extend to the ceiling, might have crumbled. “We have a pretty good handle on how that wall came down, but we’re not going to go any further than that right now,” Young said. The locker room has been sealed off while the investigation continues, school officials said.
The high school has two gymnasiums and locker rooms after a building addition several years ago, said school board member Gordon Wenk. Williamston senior Leo Deason, said he heard noise in the older of the two locker rooms and rushed in to help. He and a few other people removed cement blocks that had fallen on the boy. Deason said it was not a full wall but rather one connected to lockers. Deason said he removed his shirt to use to apply pressure to the student, who was bleeding. The teen was a few years younger, but Deason said he knew him from summer football
practices. “He just was a nice guy,” Deason said. Students took to Facebook last Wednesday evening to post comments about the student, adding that classmates should dress in black last Thursday. School board member Ernie Gaffner said, “It’s just a tragic accident and the school feels very sad about the incident. I’ve been on the board 30 years and we’ve never had anything like this happen.” Late last Wednesday, the district’s website read: “Around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon a tragic accident occurred in the boys locker room at the high school. Emergency crews were on the scene and the student was transported to Sparrow Hospital. Student identity has not been formally released. School will be in session on Thursday and counselors will be available for stu-
dents and staff. The accident is currently under investigation by the Williamston Police. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.” All first-hour teachers at the middle school and the high school talked to students, let them know about options for grief counseling and gave students an “opportunity to share,” said Superintendent Narda Murphy Thursday. Trying to support the Gabriel Corbett’s family was her main goal, Murphy said. “I feel so badly for the family,” Murphy said. “All focus on is what this family is going through.” Gabriel Corbett has been in the Williamston school system since the third grade. Lansing State Journal reporters Kevin Grasha, Lindsay VanHulle and Louise Knott Ahern contributed to this story.
Williamston High ninth grade students Emily Coscarelli (L) and Rachel Lonier create a tribute to Gabe Corbett last Thursday at Williamston High School. GREG DERUITER\LSJ
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