Texas A&M settles bonfire collapse suit

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Texas A&M University said Tuesday it has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the families of children killed and injured in a bonfire stack collapse in 1999.

Twelve people died and 27 others were hurt when the 59-foot-high stack of more than 5,000 logs collapsed while they were building it.

In a statement released Tuesday, the university said it had agreed to resolve all remaining plaintiffs' claims against former and current university employees regarding the 9-year-old lawsuit filed by the families.

"While the University has actively contested the claim that the University

employees were legally responsible for the deaths and injuries that

occurred as a result of the bonfire collapse, the University deeply

regrets the loss of life and injuries that occurred on its campus," said the statement, which included no specific details of the settlement.

Texas A&M has not permitted a bonfire since the tragedy in 1999 and no decision has been made as to whether bonfires will be allowed on campus in the future, the statement said.