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18 Hospitalized, 1 Missing After Florida Parking Garage Collapse

Story by <a target=_new href=http://www.news4jax.com/>news4jax.com</a>

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --

At least 18 people were hospitalized after half of a downtown parking garage under construction collapsed early Thursday morning.

Six hours after the collapse, an 60 people with a urban search and rescue team continues to look for a 26-year-old worker who may be trapped under thousands of pounds of concrete debris.

The incident happened as 24 workers were pouring concrete on the sixth floor of the garage going up next to a second Berkman Plaza condominium tower, under construction along the St. Johns River.

Dozens of public and private ambulances responded to what Jacksonville Fire-Rescue officials called a mass-casualty event.

"The good news is that none of the injures of those people who have been transported ... none of those appear to be traumatic," Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Tom Francis said. "Most of those are stable, non-critical injuries."

Family members of 26-year-old Willie Edwards III, who remained missing at 10 a.m., gathered at the scene, some with tears in their eyes.

Edwards' uncle, James Ferrell, was one of the workers working on the concrete pour.

"It happened so fast, the next thing I know I was down on the ground, getting up hollering, 'Where you at? Where you at?'" Ferrell told Channel 4. "I'm thinking that he's still alive and he's just caught up in it."

Search crews with dogs were looking through visible holes in the rubble. Rescuers using a specially trained dog were doing a "risky and precarious" search through the rubble.

"It's like an onion and we're going to peel it away layer by layer by layer until we get down the core and are sure there's no one else is unaccounted for," JFRD Chief Brady Rigdon said.

Heavy construction equipment was being brought in to help removing debris.

One construction worker told Channel 4 the levels of the parking garage came down like dominos. Channel 4's photojournalist Chris Shiver, preparing to do a live report from across the river, heard a sound that he described as an implosion, then saw a plume of smoke rising from the area.

"Half of it collapsed in what we call a pancake-style collapse," Rigdon said.

The front half of the garage collapsed, leaving the skeleton of the back half standing. A massive piece of concrete leaned against the still standing portion.

Of 14 people transported by rescue units and private ambulances, 13 of them were taken to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center. Doctors said two of the patients were in serious condition, one in fair condition. The rest were in good condition.

Most of the injuries were fractures and concussions. At least one patient had a spinal fracture.

Another nine people with minor injuries were transported to hospitals on a city bus.

"The patients were somewhat in emotional shock,"” trauma surgeon Dr. Joan Huffman said. "They were covered with dirt and concrete. They were frightened."

The doctors said they were still evaluating the "walking wounded," who arrived in a second wave of patients.

Mayor John Peyton said the collapse occurred during a shift change when workers were arriving and leaving work, so officials were double checking to make sure no additional workers were missing.

"We're pulling all of the resources we have locally and we have dogs coming in from Orlando, so that will help," Peyton said. "We have great cooperation with other agencies and we're getting all the help we need."

Bay Street between Liberty Street and Randolph Boulevard was closed because of to the number of emergency vehicles in the area. Police urge people to stay away from the area. At least one block of Liberty Street was also closed.

Most, if not all of the workers were employees of Pittman and Sons Concrete. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration was called to investigate the collapse.

Channel 4 has several crews at the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, with live reports throughout the day and extended coverage on the local station beginning at 5 p.m.

Copyright 2007 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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