DENVER -- At least 20 people were injured when a crowded Coors Field escalator suddenly accelerated after a Colorado Rockies game Wednesday night, fire officials said.

	Emergency workers move an injured person to an ambulance from the scene of the escalator malfunction.

Assistant Fire Chief Larry Trujillo said most of the injuries were fractures, cuts and bruises. He said none appeared to be critical.

Cherri Brownfield was on the escalator, near the end, when it sped up.

"It's like it had no brakes and everybody was just piling up at the end of it,'' she said. "People were just falling on each other.''

The escalator was carrying fans from the upper level to the street after Colorado beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2. The game was followed by a fireworks show.

Alex Frenier, a vendor at Coors Field, said people were screaming and falling down.

"I saw people's heads all hitting each other,'' he said. "I heard people's bodies banging against that thing.''

Nick Nossinger was watching the fireworks and saw the accident.

"People were just sliding down like an avalanche,'' he said.

The accident occurred at about 10:20 p.m., just after the fireworks ended, Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said.

Paramedics stationed at the stadium began treating the injured and called for help, said Tom Cribley, paramedic supervisor for Denver Health Medical Center. Eight ambulances took patients to four hospitals, he said.

Engineers examined the escalator and found no sign of structural failure, Trujillo said. City building inspectors planned to check for mechanical problems Thursday morning, he said.

Alves said Thursday night's game between the Diamondbacks and Rockies will go on as scheduled. He said the stadium's other escalators would be looked over before the game.

Coors Field has six escalators.