2013 Philadelphia building collapse
| File:22nd and Market Building before collapse.jpg Building before collapse. | |
| Date | June 5, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:43 am EST |
| Location | 2140 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | N 39.953863 - W 75.17657 |
| Cause | unknown |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 14 |
| Accused | Sean Benschop |
On June 5, 2013, a building collapsed at the southeast corner of 22nd and Market streets in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, trapping a number of people under the rubble. Six people died and fourteen others were injured.
Details
Background
An unoccupied four-story building was under demolition by Griffin Campbell Construction for several weeks prior to the accident. The building was adjacent to a one-story building with a Salvation Army store operating on the ground and basement levels. The store was open and full of shoppers and staff.[1][2][3][4]
Collapse
At 10:43 am, the four-story building under demolition collapsed onto the one-story building next door. The buildings crashed down with crumbling brick and wood snapping. Six people died and fourteen people were injured. A 61-year-old woman was trapped for 13 hours and then hospitalized at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition.[5] The thirteen other injuries were minor.[6][7][8][9]
After the collapse, an 18-year-old high school student walking by the building during its collapse rushed to the scene and spent fifteen minutes trying to free people from the rubble before emergency crews arrived.[9] During a search-and-rescue operation, rescuers used buckets and their bare hands to move through bricks and rubble until the following morning.[3]
Investigation and aftermath
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said the city and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the building collapse and it was a "wide-ranging" investigation.[10] A lawsuit was filed on June 6 for financial damages on behalf of Nadine White, the survivor who was buried under rubble. City officials began inspecting hundreds of demolition sites throughout the city due to the accident. The demolition contractor violated several federal safety regulations and it was said that the building's owner should have picked a more qualified and competent contractor to do the work.[11]
The city inspector who inspected the building and approved the ongoing demolition work on May 14, three weeks before the collapse, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound a week after the accident.[12]
Charges
Sean Benschop, the crane operator working on the demolition job at the time, will be charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of risking a catastrophe.[13] A blood test performed after the collapse revealed marijuana in his body system.[14]
Fatalities
The fatalities consisted of five women and one man.[8]
References
- ^ "13 Victims Treated At 3 Hospitals After Center City Building Collapse". CBS News Philadelphia. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ "6 dead, 13 hurt in Philadelphia building collaps". USA Today. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ a b Matheson, Kathy; Collins, Keith; Rubinkam, Michael (June 5, 2013). "Philadelphia Building Collapse: Search And Rescue Teams Pull 14th Survivor From Rubble (VIDEOS)". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Crane operator charged with manslaughter in Philadelphia building collapse". The Morning Call (Allentown, PA). June 8, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
- ^ Fantz, Ashley; Hoye, Sarah (June 6, 2013). "Philly mayor: Probe of building collapse under way". CNN. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Boyette, Chris (June 5, 2013). "6 dead in Philadelphia building collapse, 13 injured". CNN. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "9 injured, more feared trapped in Center City Philadelphia building collapse". Abclocal.go.com. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
- ^ a b "Buildings collapse in Philadelphia". Philly.com. June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ a b "Workers Seek Survivors in Philadelphia Collapse". New York Times. June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "Philly building collapse: Contractor has criminal record; owner once dubbed 'porn king'". Yahoo News. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- ^ "Fallout Mounts in Fatal Philadelphia Building Collapse". USA Today. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
- ^ Dale, Maryclaire (June 13, 2013). "Inspector Who Surveyed Building Prior To Philadelphia Collapse Commits Suicide, Officials Say". AP via HuffingtonPost.com. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
- ^ Sean Benschop Charges: Equipment Operator Was On Drugs During Philadelphia Building Collapse, Officials Say
- ^ "Philadelphia Building Collapse: Crane Operator To Be Charged with Manslaughter". ABC News. Retrieved 7 June 2013.