New Rochelle schools investigate downed fence

NEW ROCHELLE – The city school district has begun its own investigation into how a fence on the high school athletic field blew over onto five girls in the discus throwing area of a track meet Saturday.

"The district is currently doing its own analysis of what happened with the fence," district spokeswoman Tanya Hunt said Tuesday. "All of the students taken to the hospital were treated and released on Saturday and all are expected to make a full recovery."

Observers were horrified after a piece of the fence, which had been assembled at the beginning of the track season and remained upright at McKenna Field without incident since then, blew down during a wind gust. Five New Rochelle discus throwers were caught under the heavy metal mesh when it toppled.

The district athletic trainer, coaches, security and custodial personnel were on the scene immediately, the district said; parents were notified and four of the girls were taken to Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital while the fifth sought private medical attention.

The district estimated that it would not have any new information on its investigation until after school break, which ends April 22.