Overview
- The seven-story garage in Grays Ferry, which partially collapsed Wednesday, left one worker dead, two rescued and released, and two people still missing.
- Officials said a precast concrete roof segment failed during installation and set off a floor-by-floor collapse concentrated around the 30th Street stairwell.
- Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said the structure is unsafe, so crews must stabilize and methodically take it apart before they can reach the lowest levels.
- OSHA and city inspectors have opened investigations into the precast components, installation procedures, and contractor roles, while the city said permits were current and precast work relies on periodic special inspections rather than routine checks.
- The project belongs to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and had drawn neighborhood protests over traffic and health concerns, a debate likely to intensify as investigators examine how prefabricated pieces were handled on site.