Building Collapse on Fleming St.

For the second time in two weeks, severe weather created havoc in Spotsylvania County.

Shortly before 6 PM, a line of thunderstorms moved through the area, producing numerous lightning strikes, and residential alarms. Units responding to these calls encountered multiple stoplights without power, high winds, heavy rain with less then 50 ft. visibility, and 1" hail. This was on top of the normal heavy Sunday afternoon traffic. Almost immediately, Spotsylvania County Dispatch received multiple calls about collapsed buildings with people trapped.

The first units on the scene found multiple commercial structures with heavy damage. A multiple store strip shopping center fronting Lafayette Blvd had lost most of its roof. Several buildings immediately behind that location had either lost their roofs also, or had incurred damage from debris from the first buildings. Behind the second set of buildings, a large building containing a cheerleading gym collapsed. At the time, the building had a dozen or more children present, along with several adults. The roof from the gym ended up on top of a nearby residence. Several other nearby homes were damaged by debris.

Thankfully, while many of the buildings were destroyed, or damaged to they point they will be condemned, no one was seriously injured. Three people were transported to local hospitals with non-critical injuries, while three others were treated but refused transport.