Report expected on Texas A&M bonfire tragedy

Twelve people were killed and 27 others were hurt after thousands of logs collapsed on November 18, 1999

May 2, 2000
Web posted at: 3:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT)

In this story: Possible causes Fate of a tradition RELATED STORIES, SITES

From CNN's Tony Clark

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- A five-member panel will report Tuesday on the cause of the collapse of a stack of bonfire logs at Texas A&M University that killed 12 people and injured 27 others.

The stack of 5,000 logs was 59 feet tall when it collapsed November 18, 1999. That's 4 feet higher than the university allows.

RESOURCES Bonfire commission

The logs were to be burned for what's billed as the "world's largest bonfire," an event that draws thousands to the College Station campus on the eve of A&M's annual football game against its archrival, the University of Texas.

The panel's report will be made public on its Web site.

From the start, much attention was focused on the stack's cracked center pole. The pole was examined to determine whether it had begun to decay and weaken before the collapse. Investigators also looked at whether the removal of eight ropes stabilizing the center pole may have been a factor.

Investigators reportedly have determined that the site where the logs were stacked had a slight slope. As a result, the first tier of the stack leaned slightly in the direction of the collapse. Photos showed that the first level of the wedding cake-like structure was leaning at the time of the collapse.

Soil tests determined the ground did not cause the logs to shift.

Another possible factor: A crane reportedly hit a cross-tie on the stack a few days before the accident. At the time, students overseeing the construction said they believed no damage had been done.

The role of students in building the stack has also come into question. Toxicology reports showed two students who died while working on the stack were legally drunk, even though the university prohibits drinking on the site.

At least one student was wearing shorts, a T-shirt and sneakers, even though safety rules require jeans and work boots. In addition, freshman and sophomore students were allowed to work above the first tier of logs -- also a violation of safety rules.

In addition to addressing the cause of the accident, the panel was charged with addressing cultural and organizational conditions at the school that may have contributed to the disaster.

University President Ray Bowen said the results of the report will be used to determine whether the 90-year bonfire tradition is allowed to continue.

One of the students injured in the collapse hopes the bonfire will blaze again.

"I firmly believe that the tradition should continue," said John Comstock, who was released from the hospital just last month. "We can learn from it."

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