Student killed after pillar collapses at Lewis & Clark College

A student was killed and two others were injured at a Portland college when a pillar on campus collapsed while the victims were lounging in hammocks on Monday night — on the first day of classes.

Six people were laying in three hammocks by the pool at Lewis & Clark College around 8:15 p.m. when one of the brick columns supporting the hammocks buckled and fell, witnesses told Portland Fire & Rescue, according to OregonLive.com.

The 19-year-old male victim was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics despite CPR attempts.

Portland Fire spokesperson Terry Foster said that deceased man appeared to have been struck by the toppled column, which was 9-to-10 feet tall, and measuring 20-by-20 inches in width.

An 18-year-old woman suffered injuries to her arm, and another 18-year-old female student sustained abdominal injuries in the accident, according to Portland Fire’s statement. Both survivors were taken to OHSU to be treated.

The students involved in the accident have not been identified as of Tuesday morning.

A spokesperson for the private liberal arts college released a statement addressing the deadly incident.

“We are devastated to report that earlier this evening, a tragic accident occurred on the undergraduate campus in which one of our students was killed and two others were injured,” Lois Davis wrote.

“We are deeply saddened by the shocking loss of a member of our community.

Monday was the first day of classes at Lewis & Clark College.