DEI commissioner injured after fire alarm interrupts packed Erie County Council meeting

Diverse Erie Commissioner Marie Wells was taken to the hospital following an injury that occurred while exiting the Erie County Courthouse.

Erie Times-News

A fire alarm interrupted Tuesday’s most recent regular meeting of Erie County Council, forcing a packed chamber to evacuate the Erie County Courthouse about an hour into the meeting.

During the evacuation in the stairwell, McKean resident Marie Wells, who serves as a commissioner on the Erie County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, or Diverse Erie, fell and hit her head on the floor. She remained conscious and was taken by ambulance to UPMC Hamot.

Wells suffered concussion, is recovering at home

Speaking with the Erie Times-News on Friday, Wells said she suffered a C7 cervical fracture and a closed head injury with concussion. She said she was treated at UPMC and released early Wednesday.

“I honestly don’t know what happened,” she said. “We were all going down the stairs. And with the last three stairs of the last flight, I remember my head slamming on the concrete floor. It happened so fast. There was no time to react. All I remember is people talking to me and lifting me up and outside.”

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS