8 taken to hospital from building construction collapse in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WFSB/Gray News) - Eight people were rescued following a partial building collapse Friday in Connecticut near Yale’s campus, according to hospital officials.

All were taken to the hospital, and one was said to be in critical condition. Others suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were evaluated, officials said.

Director of Emergency Operations for New Haven Rick Fontana confirmed that the incident happened on Lafayette Street, which is a short distance from Yale New Haven Hospital.

The residential building that collapsed was under construction. The Associated Press reported everyone at the work site was accounted for, according to firefighters heard on the radio scanner.

The second floor collapsed during a concrete pour, and fire officials said the trapped workers had to be rescued before the concrete hardened.

New Haven fire officials said 36 people were inside the building at the time.

“This was a standard cement pour that got away from them, into an area. I’ll wait for final investigation, but from debris we were able to see it looks as if all of it pooled into one side while they were pushing and all of them in that area went in,” said New Haven Fire Chief John Alston.

A stop work order has been issued for the building, which is owned by RMS Companies. Company officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.

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