The Centre Region Code Administration (CRCA) has begun an investigation to determine why a balcony railing broke, causing a Penn State student to fall two stories onto a paved parking lot.

CRCA Senior Fire and Housing Inspector Tim Knisley said he conducted a preliminary investigation of the scene after his department was notified by the State College Police Department the day of the incident, which occurred early Friday.

Cory Wincek, 20, is in serious condition from injuries he sustained in his 15-foot fall onto a paved parking lot when the railing he was leaning on at University Terrace Apartments, 924 Bellaire Ave., gave way.

He was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville after the incident and was upgraded from critical to serious condition Monday.

Knisley said State College-based Keystone Real Estate, which owns University Terrace Apartments, has hired an engineering firm to evaluate what caused the railing to fail.

"The engineer is licensed by Pennsylvania, so we will most likely accept the report they present us," Knisley said. "If we have a problem with any parts of it, however, we can hire our own engineer."

Knisley said the engineer has taken possession of the railing, but he isn't sure when the evaluation and testing will be complete.

"We haven't done anything like this before, but we hope the report comes soon," Knisley said. "We want to take care of this as quickly as possible -- hopefully within the next two weeks."

Mick Trombley, Keystone Real Estate chief executive officer, would not answer specific questions, but he issued a statement.

"Keystone Real Estate's concern is for Cory and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. We are cooperating with local authorities in review of this matter and will continue to do the same," the statement said.

Knisley said he noticed there had been previous repairs on the railing, but besides the part where the railing fell, the rest looked intact.

Wincek, who grew up in State College, is a junior engineering major. He was at a small gathering at his apartment, and about three people were on the balcony at the time of his fall.