Updated: Surveillance video shows teenage girl hit, not pinned by shed displaced by gust of wind

Home Depot employees remove wreckage after a storage shed on display was blown to the ground in Washington City, Utah, March 18, 2018 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

WASHINGTON CITY — A teenage girl was sent to the hospital after becoming trapped underneath a storage shed that landed on her during an apparent microburst in Washington City Sunday afternoon.


UPDATED March 20, 10:00 a.m. According to a statement from Washington City Fire Department spokesman Julio Reyes to The Associated Press, while an initial report stated the girl was pinned under the shed, surveillance video later revealed that the shed hit the girl and bounced off her.


Emergency personnel respond to the scene after a girl became trapped underneath a storage shed that was blown over at a Home Depot store, Washington City, Utah, March 18, 2018 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

Emergency crews from Washington City Fire Department were dispatched to the Home Depot store on Telegraph Street at 4:13 p.m. on report of the trapped patient.

“Witnesses described sudden high winds that passed through the area, which is believed to be a microburst,” Washington City Fire spokesman Julio Reyes said.

The gust lifted and moved two storage sheds that were on display approximately 50 feet, Reyes said.

One of the sheds struck the teenage girl and another person as they were walking to Walmart from Home Depot. The girl became pinned underneath the shed temporarily but was able get free before emergency crews arrived.

“She had injuries to her left side, including clavicle, arm and knee,” Reyes said.

She was transported to Dixie Regional Medical Center by Gold Cross Ambulance for further evaluation and treatment.

Home Depot employees remove wreckage after a storage shed on display was blown to the ground in Washington City, Utah, March 18, 2018 | Photo by Joseph Witham, St. George News

The other person struck by the shed was treated and released at the scene.

The sheds had been on display near the Home Depot parking lot. The structures appeared to have become partly disassembled when they landed around a planter next to the Walmart parking lot.

Home Depot employees removed the pieces of the wrecked structures from the surrounding area.

At the time of this report, management at the Washington City Home Depot had not responded to St. George News’ request for comment on the incident.

Washington City Police also responded to the scene.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

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7 Comments

  • mshaw March 18, 2018 at 8:47 pm

    Those sheds need to be removed there a apparent hazard people run into them plus there not anchored properly otherwise this would have not happened. Home depot will have to shell out a insurance claim but luckily nobody was killed!

  • LunchboxHero March 19, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    The assailant shed was arrested, booked into Purgatory Correctional, and released on $1750 bond. Following a full investigation, it’s expected to be placed on a “scratch and dent” clearance sale at the front of the store for approximately 75% off.

  • Striker4 March 19, 2018 at 1:12 pm

    I hope the shed recovers

  • comments March 19, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    that was some nasty wind yesterday

  • kim6 March 19, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    As an eye witness account to this yesterday as I was walking out of Walmart on Telegraph. People started running into the entrance, it was a microburst wind, it shook me up a bit, pretty scary and out of no where. However, the girl was never pinned under the shed. Part of the shed hit her and she fell but she was not pinned. She was on the ground but talking to those around her, she was was pretty stunned and didn’t realize what had happened. I felt bad for her, lucky more people didn’t get hurt. Another possible news worthy item that wasn’t addressed in the article was the damage to several cars in the parking lot that were hit by the shed and other debris including carts.

  • John March 22, 2018 at 11:34 am

    Wow, an assault shed! Let’s outlaw sheds!

  • ScanMeister March 24, 2018 at 12:54 pm

    Updated story sheds new light on what actually happened. 1-800- hit by shed $$$

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