HAMMOND | A pedestrian walkway collapsed at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond just before 8 a.m. Tuesday, sending seven construction workers into Lake Michigan. (Graphic)

One worker was transported to St. Catherine's Hospital in East Chicago with an arm injury. No one else was seriously injured in the incident.

All of the workers were with Iron Workers Local 395.

Hammond Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Margraf said seven workers fell into the water, with nine others going in after them, leaving emergency workers with 16 wet victims, several of whom were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said two construction workers were initially trapped by the collapse, but were freed from the wreckage by Hammond emergency personnel.

The enclosed walkway collapsed when the iron bracing on the barge underneath it gave way, according to Mike Summers, business manager for Iron Workers Local 395.

"Everyone is accounted for and besides the bump on the arm, everyone is OK," Summers said.

A construction foreman from Stevens Iron Works jumped in water and began pulling the workers to safety, Summers said. A Local 395 safety man in a boat also went to their aid, he said.

All of the ironworkers were wearing lifejackets on the job according to U.S. Coast Guard regulations, Summers said.

The walkway was supported by bracing which was sitting on the new gaming barge, he said. That barge was being pushed toward the existing land-based pavilion when the bracing gave way.

Horseshoe representatives hoped to have all the entrance ways from the pavilion to new boat ready to open in five days, with the grand opening of the new casino scheduled for Aug. 8.

"We had all looked at it (the bracing), and it was safe," Summers said. "I had looked at it myself, and I had not problem with it."

-- Times Staff Writers Keith Benman, Andrea Holecek and Lauri Harvey Keagle and Times Correspondent Steve Zabroski contributed to this report.