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Child falls through second story stairwell
The parents of a 3-year-old who fell from a second story stairwell in Tacoma are questioning why the property management company isn't required to add new safety features to the complex
http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2015/04/11/child-falls-through-second-story-stairwell/25621351/
TACOMA, Wash. --The parents of a three-year-old girl who fell from a second story stairwell in Tacoma are questioning why the property management company isn't required to add new safety features to the complex.
The accident happened Thursday as the family was leaving the apartment, which they had just moved into days before.
Marco Castro said his daughter, Sophia, ran ahead of him and his wife as they were locking up and tripped, falling through the railing all the way to the ground.
She was taken to the hospital and put on a stretcher.
Surprisingly, she didn't break any bones, but she did suffer a concussion.
"It was just a very scary experience to see," Castro said. "You never think it is going to happen to you until it happens."
Castro said his neighbors have complained before about the space between the rail, but his property manager, Dobler Management, hasn't made any changes and he thinks they should.
Kathryn Dobler, a broker for the company, told KING 5 she was relieved Sophia was okay.
She added that there is nothing wrong with the building.
"This is an older building and they are iron rods, but they are up to code," Dobler said. "I would love to put something up but I can't."
David Johnson, a building official for the City of Tacoma, says it's unlikely a stairwell like the one at Castro's unit would be approved today, but Tacoma only requires the building comply with safety regulations at the time of construction.
The Rainier Garden Apartments were built in the 1960s. So any updated recommendations wouldn't apply.
That is unless the property owner makes alterations to the building, for instance, like adding safety features to Castro's unit.
Then, Johnson said the whole building would have to be updated.
Dobler said that would be too expensive.
It's a common issue in older buildings.
"I don't know how that is safe," Castro said.
Dobler said she is more than willing to compromise and let Marco add some safety features himself, which is exactly what Castro plans to do.
The parents of a 3-year-old who fell from a second story stairwell in Tacoma are questioning why the property management company isn't required to add new safety features to the complex
http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/tacoma/2015/04/11/child-falls-through-second-story-stairwell/25621351/
TACOMA, Wash. --The parents of a three-year-old girl who fell from a second story stairwell in Tacoma are questioning why the property management company isn't required to add new safety features to the complex.
The accident happened Thursday as the family was leaving the apartment, which they had just moved into days before.
Marco Castro said his daughter, Sophia, ran ahead of him and his wife as they were locking up and tripped, falling through the railing all the way to the ground.
She was taken to the hospital and put on a stretcher.
Surprisingly, she didn't break any bones, but she did suffer a concussion.
"It was just a very scary experience to see," Castro said. "You never think it is going to happen to you until it happens."
Castro said his neighbors have complained before about the space between the rail, but his property manager, Dobler Management, hasn't made any changes and he thinks they should.
Kathryn Dobler, a broker for the company, told KING 5 she was relieved Sophia was okay.
She added that there is nothing wrong with the building.
"This is an older building and they are iron rods, but they are up to code," Dobler said. "I would love to put something up but I can't."
David Johnson, a building official for the City of Tacoma, says it's unlikely a stairwell like the one at Castro's unit would be approved today, but Tacoma only requires the building comply with safety regulations at the time of construction.
The Rainier Garden Apartments were built in the 1960s. So any updated recommendations wouldn't apply.
That is unless the property owner makes alterations to the building, for instance, like adding safety features to Castro's unit.
Then, Johnson said the whole building would have to be updated.
Dobler said that would be too expensive.
It's a common issue in older buildings.
"I don't know how that is safe," Castro said.
Dobler said she is more than willing to compromise and let Marco add some safety features himself, which is exactly what Castro plans to do.