WINDSOR, Ont. — Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis has declared a state of emergency after a downtown parking lot caved onto an underground garage crushing cars and sending at least one victim to hospital.
Paramedics used a pulley to lift the male victim from the rubble around 10:30 AM local time. He was transported to hospital by ambulance. His condition is unknown at this time.
Eight vehicles parked on the ground floor were sent toppling into a gaping hole. Other cars parked on the underground level appear to be crushed.
The parking garage contains roughly 20 parking spots, including some for a Thai restaurant.
Witnesses say they saw a worker on an overhead crane painting the back of the building. Employees who saw the man said it appeared as though the weight of heavy equipment may have forced the parking lot to cave in. Police haven’t confirmed these witness reports.
Francis said declaring a state of emergency will allow the city to access provincial emergency response resources. A heavy urban search and rescue team has been dispatched to the scene to shore up the structure. The Ontario Provincial Police’s Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT), which is travelling from Bolton, Ont. and expected to arrive in Windsor this afternoon, will use dogs and a robot to look for any other potential victims beneath the rubble.
More to come.
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