Autopsy reveals students died of blunt injuries in Berkeley balcony collapse
BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Autopsies have revealed that multiple blunt injuries caused the deaths of six students when a balcony collapsed at an apartment building in Berkeley on Tuesday.
PHOTOS: Several killed in balcony collapse in Berkeley
The results were released Thursday by Jesika Grubaugh, an Alameda County sheriff's technician with the coroner's bureau.
Five of the victims were 21-year-old students from Ireland who were in the U.S. on work visas. Another was a 22-year-old from Rohnert Park, California.
The students were at a birthday party when the crowded fifth-floor balcony broke off an apartment building. Seven other students were hospitalized.
Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said rotted wooden beams might have caused the collapse. He later said the theory was speculation and a cause had not been officially determined.
New documents released by the city of Berkeley Thursday indicate that this tragedy was certainly avoidable.
The factors that contributed to the balcony collapse date back to when the building was constructed. "It's absolutely a construction issue," private inspector Matt Cantor said.
Documents from the city of Berkeley confirm what Cantor says is plain to see.
The balcony failure was not related to the design, but rather the construction of the building on Kittredge Street. "It very likely has to do with the way flashings and membranes were installed, the things that would protect the wood and divert water away and off that deck," Cantor said.
Cantor suggests that since the balcony failed other parts of the structure may also be compromised. "They're going to probably be wanting to do investigation into other parts of this building to make sure there aren't leaks into other places, but again it matters a lot less than having a balcony fail," Cantor said.
Workers on cherry pickers appeared to be photographing and removing the last remnants of the balcony on Thursday, while friends of the young people who were killed and injured came to pay their respects. A group of young men who placed pictures at the memorial stood arm in arm as they prayed.
Many who stopped didn't know the students, but wanted to honor them in some small way. "I of course identify with them because I had a daughter that went on a work-study abroad twice and it's a parent's worst nightmare and I just wanted to pay my respects," Caroline Lane said.
Seven students who survived the tragedy remain in area hospitals. Sean Fahey was among those got injured and posted a picture on his Facebook page of graffitti that reads: "Berkeley six rest in paradise" along with a message saying: "Thanks everyone for the support in such a dark time."
Click here to find out how you can support the Irish students currently in Berkeley during this difficult time.
Click here for a GoFundMe account for families of the Berkeley balcony collapse.
Click here for full coverage on the deadly Berkeley balcony collapse.
RAW VIDEO: Berkeley officials held press conference about balcony collapse
