JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Six people are dead after a vacant building fell onto a Salvation Army store in downtown Philadelphia.

The building collapse occurred on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at about 10:30 a.m. Witnesses said that demolition workers were knocking down a four-story building when it “fell the wrong way,” and collapsed on the two-story Salvation Army Thrift Store at 2140 Market Street.

Hundreds of first responders came to the scene. Fire fighters and police officers used buckets and bare hands to move rubble as they searched for survivors. Twenty workers and customers were in the building when it collapsed. Six died in the accident. The deceased included 24-year-old art student Anne Bryan, the daughter of Philadelphia city treasurer Nancy Winkler.

Search dogs were used to locate survivors. Fourteen survivors were pulled from the rubble. Most suffered only minor injuries. The last survivor, 61-year-old Myra Plekam, was not rescued until more than 12 hours after the building collapsed.

The building collapse is being blamed on the excavator operator, who was working on the demolition of the building next door. Forty-two-year-old Sean Benschop of Philadelphia was operating the excavator with his arm in a cast. He has admitted to using marijuana, codeine, and other prescription drugs. He will be charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of risking a catastrophe. Benschop has ten previous arrests, including drug charges, theft, firearms, and assault.

Investigators are still trying to determine what role the owners of the building played in the building collapse.

Our Philadelphia work accident lawyers wish all those injured quick and full recoveries. We also send our most sincere condolences to the families of those whose lives were lost in this tragedy.