Updated at 11:10 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — City officials say one person is dead, and two others are presumed dead after a Grays Ferry parking garage partially collapsed Wednesday afternoon.
Crews spent Friday preparing for a controlled demolition of the unstable structure, set to begin early Saturday morning, as the operation shifted from search and rescue to recovery.
According to city officials, the incident happened around 2:17 p.m. at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia garage, currently under construction, on 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue. Initial findings said the accident happened as construction personnel were pre-casting concrete and placing roof segments.
"After placement, a pre-cast roof segment failed and fell to the level below, literally triggering a progressive collapse," said Mayor Cherelle Parker.
One worker was extricated from the rubble and taken to a hospital in critical condition, but later succumbed to his injuries. Two people were rescued, treated, and released. Two others remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead. All three victims were members of Ironworkers Local 401.
Ironworkers Local 401 identified the three workers as Stepan Shevchuk, who died at the hospital, and Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr., who remain unaccounted for and are presumed dead. The union said the tragedy has devastated the local community and asked members to keep the victims and their families in their prayers.
Mayor Cherelle Parker ordered flags across the city to be flown at half-staff on Friday and vowed to recover the missing workers with dignity.
"I want the people of Philadelphia to know that we will continue doing everything that it takes to recover the two souls who are missing and presumed deceased with the greatest amount of dignity humanly possible," Parker said. She added the city would investigate the accident and perform an audit on the contractors involved in the construction project.
Managing Director Adam Thiel said crews moved carefully and intentionally to prepare the site for demolition.
"It is not just to demolish the building and scrape the site. It is to return these two ironworkers who are still in there to their families with dignity and respect," Thiel said.
Crews spent Friday setting up barriers, safety zones and assembling a large crane to be used in the controlled demolition. Engineers using lasers detected structural movement in the unstable garage. Officials say once demolition is complete, recovery efforts will begin.
Parker said the city will get to the bottom of what caused the collapse.
"This is important to me as mayor of this city that the people of Philadelphia know we will get to the bottom of this and we will find out exactly what happened that caused this structure to collapse," she said.
One ironworker who came to the scene in solidarity with those who didn't make it home reflected on the loss.
"Whether you knew them or not, the brotherhood is what brings you here, just to pay respects. Those are our fellow brother ironworkers, and unfortunately, I just feel for their families. My heart goes out to the families," he said.
Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said engineers are on site to stabilize the building so rescue teams can search the wreckage safely. He said crews would have to deconstruct the building from the top down.
"We cannot give you a timeframe on how long it's going to take because as we move through this process," he said. "We are constantly reevaluating this structure and making plans so that we can conduct this operation as safely as possible."
The planned 1,000-car garage has been the subject of controversy, with neighbors and advocates protesting its construction and demanding CHOP pause construction and discuss the process with community members.
However, Shamar Pitts, a member of opposing neighborhood group Philly Thrive, expressed his sympathy for people injured in the collapse.
"This is horrible, and my heart goes out to the workers who were harmed and injured and to their families," said Pitts. "I really pray that they make a full recovery, man, because this is just horrible."
Police said Grays Ferry Avenue is closed between 29th and 33rd streets, and cautioned drivers to find alternate routes. The Grays Ferry Shopping Center across the street will be closed during search and rescue efforts.
Stay with KYW Newsradio for more on this developing story.
Three ironworkers killed in Grays Ferry collapse identified by Ironworkers Union Local 401
Three ironworkers killed in Grays Ferry collapse identified by Ironworkers Union Local 401
