Emergency Crews Respond to Ceiling Collapse at Nebraska Elementary School

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A ceiling caved in at an elementary school Tuesday, stunning students and teachers but causing only minor injuries, officials said.

A slight rumble was heard just before the ceiling came down at St. Mary's School, and a teacher rushed the first- and second-grade students toward the door, principal Richard Leimbach said.

Most of the students escaped, but a volunteer who was in a nearby class helped two students caught under the rubble.

``As fast as we could we all went towards the door,'' said 46-year teaching veteran Avis Pittman. ``There were cuts and bleeding. It was very scary.''

Eight students were treated for bumps and minor cuts, fire officials said.

Police said there was no evidence of foul play or water damage, and Leimbach noted that no one was in a music room above the classroom at the time of the incident.

``Those first- and second-graders are rambunctious, but not rambunctious enough to cause this,'' Leimbach said. ``We have no idea why this happened.''