On Tuesday afternoon, a parking garage on Ann Street in Lower Manhattan collapsed, killing one person and injuring five others. The incident caused cars to stack on top of each other and rubble from the top deck to fall down to street level, causing dust to rise from the wreckage. Emergency workers were initially pulled away from the site due to concerns over the integrity of the structure. Later, rescuers used tower ladders, drones, and a robotic dog to search for victims.
Buildings Department inspectors and fire officials were on site, inspecting the property’s structural stability. The building is owned by Ann Street LLC and had several open violations dating back to 2003. The exact cause of the collapse is still unknown. The collapse caused emergency vehicles to fill the surrounding streets, and workers with stretchers and cutting tools made their way towards the pile of concrete and stacked vehicles. Witnesses reported hearing a rumbling sound and seeing cars collapse on top of each other.
Emergency services treated four people, and one person declined medical attention. Students at nearby Pace University were offered accommodations if they were unable to find a place to sleep, as some of their dorms were in close proximity to the incident. Ariel Stern, a building manager who worked nearby, had her car trapped in the wreckage. Stern was grateful that she had not gone to the garage at her usual time and was not involved in the incident.