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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hero Saves 100 Bowlers Before Roof Falls

Associated Press

A bowling alley employee was hailed as a hero Monday after he cleared the lanes of more than 100 people moments before a portion of the roof collapsed.

Jim Duncan told a nearly full house of bowlers to leave Person Lanes Sunday night when he heard a noise and saw a dip in the ceiling.

“There was a little dip in one of the main beams that goes across,” Duncan said. “I saw a little dust coming down … and decided better safe than sorry.”

Duncan said he barely escaped before the center portion of the roof - a chunk about 80 feet by 90 feet - caved in at about 7:40 p.m.

“That was when it really started to come down,” he said. “The blast of the wind from the ceiling falling in kind of pushed me out the doors.”

Duncan said 30 of the 32 lanes were being used at the time of the collapse. Sunday night is the regular bowling night for a league comprised of more than 100 Seattle Mariners fans.

Duncan said he used a loudspeaker system to tell everyone to leave the building.

Police and fire officials said they had no idea what caused the collapse.