Cowboys Indoor Practice Facility Collapses During Practice

((HT: Dallas Morning News/Tim MacMahon))

The afternoon practice ended in horrifying fashion when the Cowboys' indoor facility collapsed ((pictured, thanks MacMahon)).

While a violent thunderstorm pounded rain down on the roof, the lights started shaking back and forth. Then chaos broke out, as the facility collapsed and players, coaches, reporters and team personnel scrambled for safety.

Several people were trapped under the wreckage. Police and emergency personnel have arrived on the scene.

More to come.

UPDATE: According to a Cowboys spokesman, at least four members of the team's support staff are being taken to the hospital. All players and coaches are believed to be safe. Rescue personnel are still searching through the debris

Video of the scene can be checked out here...thanks NBCDFW/NBC5 Dallas...
Here's another look from overhead, thanks NBC5...

WFAA-TV8 is live by clicking here...

5:45 UPDATE: Cowboys Director of Media Relations Director Rich Dalrymple just announced that there are five or six injured. The seriousness of those injuries are unknown, but there will be another search of the facility in the next few minutes.

6:05 UPDATE: Triage is still sorting through the injured at Valley Ranch. Parkland Hospital is now reporting that 10 injuries are from the cowboys facility. Among the injured are a newspaper reporter, a Cowboys staff videographer, and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis.

Coach De was pulled from a side door and left the scene in a neck brace.
"He was moving his hands and he was talking," Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips said before leaving for the hospital.

6:30 UPDATE: A press conference is forthcoming at Valley Ranch. 27 players were inside at the time of the collapse with coaching staff, members of the media, and several representatives of Cowboys sponsors who were watching practice. triage and inspection of the facility are still ongoing.

Irving Mayor Herbert Gears said one person was in critical condition.

At least four members of the team's support staff were taken to the hospital, according to a Cowboys spokesman.

The National Weather Service recorded wind gusts in excess of 60 mph near Valley Ranch around that time. There’s no indication that a tornado touched down, weather service meteorologist Daniel Huckaby said.

“When you are talking of winds in excess of 60 mph, it can certainly cause damage,” Huckaby said. “They can easily be as strong as a low-end tornado."

Here's video from overhead, thanks bobsblitz/KWTX

Mac Engel of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram adds the following:
Cowboys secondary coach Brett Maxie suffered a laceration on his leg; special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was seen immediately afterward walking around and appeared to be OK. But he was later taken to the hospital on a stretcher.

Team scout Chris Hall was one of the front-office members trapped underneath the frame, but was speaking clearly. He apparently has suffered multiple arm injuries.
Photos from Ron Jenkins at the Star-Telegram:


7:15 UPDATE: Irving city officials just held a press conference where they announced the current number of injuries at 12- 10 plus 2 walk-ins. Two of those injuries are listed as serious in nature. One person, who was sent to Parkland Trauma center, reportedly was impaled by an object.

As many as six people were hospitalized, one in critical condition, with injuries suffered when the facility’s bubble roof caved in, Irving City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said. None were players, he said.

“They’ve gone back and combed the area to make sure everyone is accounted for,” Gonzalez said, “and so far everyone is accounted for.”

A 33-year-old man was impaled by an object and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas in critical condition, Gonzalez said.

Two people were in serious condition at Parkland, one with a head injury and another who suffered neck and back injuries. Another person was in serious condition at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas with an open leg fracture. The others suffered injuries that were not life threatening.

Early coverage from KTVT-CBS11 is below...