Construction Rig Collapse in Miami Injures Four
Four individuals were hospitalized on Monday after a construction rig collapsed onto multiple vehicles and a container in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood. The incident occurred at approximately 8 a.m. near Southeast 12th Street and Brickell Bay Drive.
Miami Fire Rescue was prompt in responding. Their Technical Rescue Team units efficiently freed two trapped workers from a crushed container, and all four transported patients were reported in stable condition. The mishap involved the rig toppling onto vehicles and sparking a fire in one of them.
‘Miami Fire Rescue responded after a drilling rig fell onto three vehicles near SE 12 Street and Brickell Bay Drive,’ Miami Fire Rescue posted online.
The fire erupted following the rig’s impact on a BMW, which firefighters quickly extinguished. The driver of the BMW managed a remarkable escape by reversing and exiting the vehicle as it caught fire. Additionally, two unoccupied parked cars were crushed in the incident.
Present at the scene, Miami Fire Chief Robert Hevia confirmed that the trapped workers were aged 27 and 29. Both, alongside the rig operator and BMW driver, were taken to nearby hospitals with minor injuries. Hevia praised the collaborative efforts of rescue teams handling the fire and victim extrication.
The collapse led Miami Police to close Brickell Bay Drive between Southeast 12th and Southeast 13th Streets, urging motorists to avoid the area.
‘Due to a crane collapse, Brickell Bay Drive is currently closed between SE 12th Street and SE 13th Street. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area, seek alternate routes, and expect delays,’ stated the Miami Police Department.
Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting an inquiry. The collapse site is where the Citadel headquarters, planned by billionaire Ken Griffin, is being developed.
Efforts to reach Miami Fire Rescue and Citadel for comment were not immediately successful.