by Hanford, California — An 8-year-old boy, James Harrah, is sharing his story after he was seriously hurt when part of an outdoor roof suddenly collapsed at Washington Elementary School on Nov. 10. The incident happened around 2:30 p.m., just as students were heading out to meet their parents.
According to district officials, a large section of ceiling stucco over the school’s outdoor amphitheater unexpectedly gave way — crashing down on James and another student. The collapse happened without warning, leaving children and staff stunned.
“All I remember is when I was going out from school, the roof fell on me,” James said in an interview with KABC, sitting beside his parents, Diana and Shawn Harrah.
Child Suffers Concussion, Broken Bone, and Multiple Injuries
The impact left James with a concussion, a broken clavicle, and a black eye, according to multiple local outlets.
His mother, Diana, described the terrifying scene:
“As he was walking by, the whole thing kind of collapsed on him. It sounded like one piece landed on his head and knocked him over. Then another piece fell on top of him.”
School staff rushed to help the injured children, and first responders arrived within minutes. Both students were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Superintendent Joy Gabler later confirmed that both kids were released the same evening, saying she was grateful for the swift response from school personnel and emergency teams.
Parents Describe Panic and Relief
James’ father, Shawn, had just arrived at the school to pick him up. He immediately ran to his son.
“I was able to get there, check on him, talk to him, and let him know I was there,” he told KABC. He quickly phoned Diana, who said her “heart dropped” when she heard the news and that she “raced” to be by her son’s side.
The family believes James avoided even worse injuries thanks to his backpack, which absorbed part of the falling debris.
“His books were bent in half,” Diana said. “They were thick, and it felt like he had armor on.”
School Closes for Emergency Structural Review
In response to the collapse, the Hanford Elementary School District immediately brought in architects and structural engineers to inspect the damaged area.
The district announced that the campus will remain closed until Dec. 1, with students switching to remote learning during repairs.
“The District takes the safety of our students and staff very seriously,” Superintendent Gabler said in a statement. She added that the district looks forward to welcoming students back in early December once the campus is declared safe.
Young Survivor Staying Positive Despite Scare
Even as he continues recovering at home, James says he’s looking forward to returning to school — and he thinks his classmates will definitely have questions.
“I think they might be impressed because a roof fell on me,” he joked, showing the resilience that’s helping him heal.
Should schools conduct more frequent structural safety inspections — especially in older campuses?
Drop your thoughts in the comments!
