BY TRAVIS WALTERS
Savannah College of Art and Design student Megan Petry was hospitalized Sunday, March 23, after falling from the fifth floor of Turner House at 302 W. Boundary St. She was sitting with her back to the metal railing next to the stairs while talking with a friend when the struts on the railing gave way. She fell backward through the remaining frame and tried to hold onto it and the person with her, but she could not. Petry landed on the sloped grass embankment five stories down.
SCAD security and Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police responded to the incident. Petry was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Memorial University Medical Center.
When asked about the incident, many students expressed disbelief at the accident and concern over the remaining railing. Most were surprised that it happened at Turner given its relatively new status when compared to other residence houses. SCAD Director of Communications Sunny Nelson said in a statement shortly after the incident, “The thoughts and prayers of the Savannah College of Art and Design community are with the student and family.”
SCAD is investigating the incident and has begun an inspection of all the railings at Turner House. They’ve already put red caution tape on many of the railings at Turner and they’ve covered the failed railing with plywood.
The city of Savannah is conducting their own inspection to determine if the building is in compliance with city code. Brett Bell, of the City Hall Public Information Office, said that “Whenever something like this happens, the city checks to see if the building was in compliance with city code,” and that they will “look at the specs for the building and the railings to check loads and everything.” He went on to say that it was “not a criminal investigation, just an inspection of compliance with the city code.” When asked about the repercussions for not being compliant with the code he said that the college “wouldn’t necessarily be fined, but would be asked to bring the building into compliance.”
Bell said that SCAD is cooperating with the city’s inspection. It has the original specs for the railing from the manufacturer and has sent them to the city. “The City Engineer [Peter Shonka] is satisfied with SCAD’s response,” said Bell, “because SCAD is performing their own investigation.”
The coeducational Turner House, used largely to house freshman, was built in 2001 and houses approximately 840 students. It is one of nine residence halls in use at SCAD.
Photo credit: James Biscardi
