1 Dead, 13 Pulled from Rubble After Philadelphia Building Collapses During Demolition

[Pardus]

Article, Pics and Video

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Building-Collapse-in-Center-City-210243621.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/0...fter-building-collapse-in-north-philadelphia/

Wednesday, Jun 5, 2013 | Updated 3:28 PM EDT

A four-story building being demolished in downtown Philadelphia suddenly collapsed Wednesday morning, killing one woman and trapping at least 13, who were hospitalized after being removed from the debris.

The scene at 22nd and Market streets is still active and dozens of rescue crews continue to search for possible survivors. It is believed that there may be one person still pinned. A total of 13 people were hospitalized at nearby trauma centers with minor injuries and listed in stable condition.

Firefighters were conducting a "hands-only" operation, with no heavy equipment, for about the first hour. It was firefighters with buckets moving bricks. A team of four search dogs were also deployed at the scene.

"Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down ... onto the other building."

MyFoxPhilly.com reported that it appears firefighters are split into two groups: one group focused on the back of the collapsed building, and the other group inside the nearby Salvation Army.

Marc Newell told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he heard an "unbelievable rumble," "like a freight train."

"You could hear the moaning," he told the paper.

The collapse involved a Salvation Army corner thrift store and a four-story building next door with a sandwich shop on the first floor. It's not clear whether any other adjacent buildings were damaged.

Carlton Williams of the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections said there were no existing violations on the building and the demolition company had proper permits for the work they were doing.

The city issued a demolition permit for the four-story structure on Feb. 1. Online records list the contractor as Plato Marinakos Jr., an architect. He told The Associated Press that Campbell Construction was handling the demolition. A message was left at a listing for Campbell Construction in Philadelphia.

Police said it appears the collapse was the result of an industrial accident.

Veronica Haynes was on the fifth floor of an apartment building across the street.

"I was standing there looking out my window, watching the men at work on the building, and the next thing I know I heard something go kaboom," she said. "Then you saw the whole side of the wall fall down ... onto the other building."

Bill Roam, a 54-year-old construction worker who has been working on a remodeling project at a nearby site for several days, heard the collapse and ran over. He said the dust was so thick that it was hard to see, adding that he was concerned in recent days by the way the building was being demolished.

High school student Jordan McLaughlan said he saw several people on the ground being given oxygen by rescuers after the collapse.

"It was hard to breathe, there was a lot of dust everywhere," McLaughlan said.

 

[MisterJackson]

Apparently it's not always sunny there.

 

[waggy]

what a colossal fuck up. pitty people had to die.

Apparently it's not always sunny there.

looks sunny in the picture!

 

[Blackjack200]

Five blocks from where my ex-gf works. Wow.

 

[techs]

That's terrible. Ruined the "half off" sale.

 

[darkewaffle]

Dang, 22nd and market? I probably walked by there a few times when I was in Philly.

Philly has a lot of buildings that would probably be better off in a pile of rubble lol.

 

[MisterJackson]

what a colossal fuck up. pitty people had to die.





looks sunny in the picture!

Not if you're under the rubble!

 

[Krazy4Real]

Five blocks from where my ex-gf works. Wow.

:hmm:

 

[Wyndru]

I haven't seen any video of this yet. I figured there would be a lot of video out there since bystanders usually gather around to watch these buildings get dropped. I'm curious to see it in motion to get a better image of what went wrong.

 

[Blackjack200]

:hmm:

I texted her and she said she was okay. I used to help bring stuff to that Salvation Army to donate because she doesn't have a car.

 

[sjwaste]

I used to work a block over at the old AAA building. Wow.

 

[dank69]

Repost. Did you even bother to search for "Not So Effing Awesome"?

 

[JEDI]

update:
crane operator arrested and charged w/manslaughter!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/08/us/philadelphia-building-collapse/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

The 42-year-old crane operator wanted on involuntary manslaughter and other charges tied to a deadly Philadelphia building collapse turned himself in Saturday, a police spokesman said.

Sean Benschop will be charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of "risking a catastrophe," officials said.


hm.. rumors are that he was wearing a cast (broken arm) while operating the crane?!
if so, WTFBBQ?!

 

[PottedMeat]

hm.. rumors are that he was wearing a cast (broken arm) while operating the crane?!
if so, WTFBBQ?!

Benschop, the crane operator, had marijuana and pain medication in his blood after the collapse, a law enforcement source told CNN.

well shit you gots to kill the pain of a broken arm with weed and vicodin - how else you gonna work a 2 handed crane control with one hand


-where's the rumor source?

 

[BoomerD]

I don't get why they keep calling him a crane operator when he was operating an excavator...
Fucking newsies...all equipment is either a bulldozer or a crane...

 

[Red Squirrel]

Sucks for the deaths and injuries, but it could have been much much worse, they got lucky.

You would think the buildings around would be evacuated for safety precaution for a project like this though.

 

[Phoenix86]

Building Collapses During Demolition

Isn't a building supposed to collapse during a demolition?

 

[BoomerD]

Isn't a building supposed to collapse during a demolition?

:hmm: Yes, but the one that collapsed wasn't the one being demolished...

 

[RaistlinZ]

I texted her and she said she was okay. I used to help bring stuff to that Salvation Army to donate because she doesn't have a car.

Of course she was ok, she was five blocks away man. That's at least a good mile, isn't it?

 

[Phoenix86]

:hmm: Yes, but the one that collapsed wasn't the one being demolished...

I know, it's just a terrible article and headline to match.

 

[NFS4]

Wow

Inspector of Philadelphia Building that Collapsed Committed Suicide

 

[SheHateMe]

Wow

Inspector of Philadelphia Building that Collapsed Committed Suicide

But....they sad the Crane operator was responsible? He was intoxicated on the job apparently.

 

[JEDI]

But....they sad the Crane operator was responsible? He was intoxicated on the job apparently.

why was the crane oiperator held w/o bail?
he volunteerily turned himself in

 

[Blackjack200]

Of course she was ok, she was five blocks away man. That's at least a good mile, isn't it?

No shit, but it's a city, do you think she ever leaves her building to run an errand?

But....they sad the Crane operator was responsible? He was intoxicated on the job apparently.

Usually on something like this there are multiple causes for the accident. The crane operator might have just been the final piece of the puzzle.

It's possible the inspector signed off on a building that was unsafe, and he knew that the investigation would uncover that.

 

[Dari]

why was the crane oiperator held w/o bail?
he volunteerily turned himself in

It's for show. Being black was a bonus...