Three people died and another was seriously injured in a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
The scaffolding fell from a high-rise building into a parking lot at about 11 a.m. Monday in the 500 block of Fayetteville Street.
Update Raleigh, NC *Scaffold Collapse* report of multiple fatalities. Falling glass hazard. #NCfire
— CAROLINAS FIRE PAGE (@CFPalerts) March 23, 2015
U/D Raleigh, NC (Wake) *Struct Collapse* prelim of 4 fatal. Lenoir at Fayetteville. Img @ABC11_WTVD chopper. pic.twitter.com/S6dojZGhmF
— CAROLINAS FIRE PAGE (@CFPalerts) March 23, 2015
A witness at the scene told WRAL the scaffolding collapsed between the fifth and sixth floors of the building. Another witness told WTVD that he heard a cracking and popping sound and saw the scaffolding give way and crash to the ground.
Pictures from WTVD’s helicopter show broken pieces of scaffolding on the ground and a piece of the structure where the scaffolding had been anchored to the side of the building remained sticking out horizontally.
A website for Charter Square says it is an 11-story building offering office space at Lenoir and Fayetteville streets adjacent to Duke Energy Performing Arts Center, Raleigh Convention Center and the Raleigh Marriott City Center.
Choate Construction released a statement that read:
“At approximately 11 a.m. this morning, a serious incident involving a mast climber scaffold occurred on the Charter Square project in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. At this time, details as to the cause of the accident are not known.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries suffered during this incident. Our first and primary concern is for these personnel and their families. We request your thoughts and prayers at this time.
A full investigation as to the cause of the accident has begun. We will provide updates as they become available.”
Update Raleigh, NC *Collapse* Press Conf soon. South St btwn Salisbury/Wilmington is FD staging. Img @LopezABC11 pic.twitter.com/6F4N3tdpW7
— CAROLINAS FIRE PAGE (@CFPalerts) March 23, 2015
A version of this story was originally published by KTLA sister station WGHP in Greensboro, North Carolina, and was distributed to KTLA by Tribune Broadcasting.
