HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Correction: On Monday, Oct. 24, we erroneously reported there were four victims in this incident. There were three workers involved. One died, one was critically injured and a third only suffered minor injuries. There was not a fourth victim with minor injuries.
One worker was killed and three others were hurt, one critically, after a scaffolding collapsed in Hollywood, according to Hollywood’s Fire Chief.
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Monday, workers were left hanging for their lives after a scaffolding collapsed from 40 feet up, along the south side of the Hyde Resort and Residences, on Hollywood Beach. Two victims were transported as a trauma alert to Memorial Regional Hospital. One of these victims was pronounced dead and the other in critical condition.
According to Hollywood Police, the workers were painting a massive mural on the side of the building.
“No one would’ve known that, on Monday, his family would get a phone call,” said Antwan Green, a construction worker at the site.
The structure is located along East Hallandale Beach Boulevard and Ocean Drive in Hallandale Beach.
“We heard a lot of commotion that someone was in distress on the south side of the building,” said Green, “and as we took a look over there, we saw two guys dangling, and one had already fell, to his death, I should say.”
Two other victims were left dangling by their safety harnesses. One was safely lowered to the ground by Hollywood Fire Rescue, while the other was brought to safety by Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue’s Aerial Ladder truck. Both were treated for minor injuries on the scene.
“We had two victims that were stuck on their safety harness ropes,” said Hollywood Fire Battalion Chief Jameel Zaidie. “We were able to get the second victim down, and then the third victim was brought down by Hallandale Beach, their aerial truck ladder was able to rescue them.”
Hollywood Police said the mural is the work of the artist Douglas Hoekzema, but it’s unclear if he was on the scene at the time of the accident.
Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue responded first and noted that the accident left three workers injured, including one who was being treated as a trauma alert.
Last Tuesday, broken scaffolding sent debris flying from the 60-story Echo Condominiums building in Brickell. One man died from a heart attack while fleeing from the debris.
The firm, John Moriarty and Associates, confirmed that they are the contractors at both sites. So far, the extent of their involvement is unknown.
The developer of the Hollywood property released a statement saying, “Tragically, a section of scaffolding at Hyde Resort & Residences Hollywood fell today. Security and safety are, and always have been, a priority at every one of our construction sites and an internal investigation of today’s events is underway. We are deeply concerned and send heart-felt thoughts to the individuals involved and their families.”
“I could honestly say that it’s a safe job, and they go to the extreme to make sure we’re safe, so I guess they’re going to look into what happened and stuff like that,” Green said.
Hollywood Fire Inspectors and Hollywood Police are beginning an investigation into the incident along with investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
After the accident, all workers at the site were sent home for the day.
The identities of those injured have not yet been released.
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