Several children were injured in what authorities described as an inflatable slide accident at a Suffolk County park early Tuesday morning, police said.
Suffolk County Police say officers responded to the scene at Wyandanch Park on Mount Avenue after reports of an exploded slide that overturned around 9:45 a.m. the tennis courts below.
The children were at the park as part of a field day for elementary students in the Wyandanch School District, police said.
There were 14 children on the slide, ages 6 and 7, according to police. A child was taken to a hospital with a broken leg.
Suffolk Assistant Fire Coordinator Paul Miller said 11 people were treated at the scene. and were handed over to their parents or guardians. Miller said seven other people were taken by ambulance to hospitals.
Chopper 4 was on the scene with a heavy police presence. First responders were seen tending to some of the injured while the tennis courts had several bounce houses deflated.
Meanwhile, in a statement to News 4 New York, Wyandanch School District Superintendent Dr. Gina Talbert said students at Lafrancis Hardiman Elementary School were enjoying field day on the slide when it began to deflate- yes
“Several students were transported by ambulance to the hospital for observation and treatment as needed,” Talbert’s statement read in part. “We recognize that this is a very frightening event witnessed by our young scholars, staff and families and we are deeply concerned about how this could have happened.”
According to Talbert, the district has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident, including working with the company that supplied the inflatables.
“The district has immediately begun a thorough investigation, including working with the company that provided the inflatables, into the cause of this situation,” Talbert said. “We will provide more information as it becomes available. At this time, our priority is the health and well-being of the students who may have been injured and the students who attended the event.”
Workers at the company that installed the inflatables declined to comment.
