Construction Rig Topples in Miami, Four Hospitalized
On Monday, four individuals were hospitalized after a construction rig fell onto three vehicles and a construction container in Miami, trapping two workers and causing a fire, as reported by officials.
Miami Fire Rescue reached the site in the bustling Brickell neighborhood, near Southeast 12th Street and Brickell Bay Drive, where the collapse occurred around 8 a.m.
In a statement posted on X, Miami Fire Rescue indicated, “A drilling rig fell onto three vehicles near SE 12 Street and Brickell Bay Drive.” They detailed that their Technical Rescue Team worked diligently to free two victims who were trapped in a crushed container, and thankfully, all four patients taken to hospitals were in stable condition.
Firefighters successfully rescued a 27-year-old and a 29-year-old, both construction workers trapped inside the damaged container. Additionally, a fire broke out after the rig crushed a BMW. Fire Chief Robert Hevia described the scene, remarking on the dramatic escape of the BMW’s driver, who managed to reverse and exit the burning vehicle.
He mentioned that the rig also crushed two parked cars that were unoccupied. Remarkably, the rig operator and the BMW driver were among those rushed to local hospitals, both sustaining minor injuries, and all 18 construction workers present at the site were accounted for.
Hevia characterized the situation as complex, with ongoing firefighting and the rescue team simultaneously cutting through the construction box to reach the trapped workers. Earlier in the day, Miami Police advised drivers to avoid the vicinity due to the crane’s collapse, indicating that Brickell Bay Drive was closed between SE 12th and SE 13th Streets. They urged motorists to seek alternate routes and exercise caution while navigating the area.
As for the reason behind the collapse, officials have not provided any information yet, but it was noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would be investigating the incident. Reports state that the collapse took place at the construction site for billionaire Ken Griffin’s planned Citadel headquarters.
