Four individuals were hospitalized on Monday following the collapse of a construction rig that struck three vehicles and a construction container in Miami. This incident left two workers trapped and led to a vehicle fire, according to city authorities.
Emergency responders from Miami Fire Rescue were dispatched to the bustling Brickell neighborhood, near Southeast 12th Street and Brickell Bay Drive, after the rig fell around 8 a.m. In a statement, Miami Fire Rescue shared, “Technical Rescue Team units worked diligently to free two trapped victims from a crushed container. Thankfully, all four patients transported to the hospital were stable.”
Among those rescued were two construction workers, aged 27 and 29. Miami Fire Chief Robert Hevia detailed their extraction during a news conference. Crews also managed to extinguish a fire triggered when the rig damaged a BMW. Hevia commented on the BMW driver’s escape from the burning vehicle, emphasizing the driver’s quick response amid peril.
The rig also damaged two other parked vehicles, which were unoccupied. Hevia confirmed that the rig operator, aged 47, and the BMW driver, also received treatment at local hospitals for minor injuries. He noted that all 18 site workers were accounted for.
The scene was complex, with simultaneous firefighting and technical rescue operations to extricate the victims from the construction container.
Earlier, the Miami Police Department advised motorists to avoid the area, noting the closure of Brickell Bay Drive between SE 12th and SE 13th streets due to the crane incident. Motorists were encouraged to seek alternative routes and heed officer directions to navigate the scene safely.
At this time, the exact cause of the rig’s collapse remains undetermined. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is leading an investigation. Reports indicate the collapse site is where billionaire Ken Griffin plans to establish Citadel’s headquarters.
Efforts to reach representatives from Miami Fire Rescue and Citadel for comments were unsuccessful. Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.