The Abilene, Texas, Reporter-News, Tuesday Evening, October 17, 1950, Page 2.2 Killed as Walls Of Building Collapse
TULSA Okla., Oct, 17. AP--Two men were killed Monday when the walls of a five-store shopping center under construction collapsed, burying them under tons of freshly-poured concrete.
Nine other workmen were injured and hospitalized.
Those killed were identified as Paul Capps, Jr., a plumber's helper, and Roosevelt Hunter, a cement mixer.
Scores of construction workers, police and firemen burrowed in the ruins in a search for other possible victims.
The Ada Evening News, Ada, Okla., Tuesday, October 17, 1950, Page 12.Tulsa Grand Jury May Study Accident
To Settle Responsibility for Roof Collapse That Killed Three Persons
TULSA, Okla., Oct. 17--(AP)--A county grand jury probably will look into the question of responsibility for yesterday's building tragedy which killed three workmen and injured nine others, County Attorney Elmer Adams said today.
Adams said the jury, which convenes next Tuesday, very likely will take up an investigation into the collapse of a concrete roof on a store building under construction on the city's east side.
This development came as the county attorney studied preliminary reports by County Investigator Ray Graves and heard conflicting stories on the possible cause of the cave-in.
Adams said Assistant County Attorney Lewis J. Bicking and Graves would start questioning persons today. The inquiry is to determine the possibility of negligence in the design and construction of the one-story structure.
Two of the injured--Andrew Russell, 58, Okmulgee Negro, and Harry J. Davis, 34--were reported still in serious condition at a hospital.
The 77x118-foot brick, tile and steel building was designed to house a modern shopping center on the city's east side.
Those killed by the crash of tons of concrete from the roof were E. L. (Abe) Martin, 65; Paul L. Capps, Jr., 24, and Roosevelt Hunter, 37, negro.
Graves said he was checking reports that parts of the building's wall moved a bit several hours before the tragedy.
Adams said if the inquiry discloses "culpable negligence," manslaughter charges will be filed against the proper persons.
October 16, 1957--Taylor, British Columbia, Canada: The Peace River Bridge Collapse.
The Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, Thursday, October 17, 1957.
BEFORE COLLAPSE--This is the 2,200-foot Alaska Highway suspension bridge at Taylor, B.C., as it looked before it fell into the river, cutting off the highway.
INTO THE WATER--The twisted section of the Alaska Highway bridge rests in the Peace River after it pulled loose from its land anchor and collapsed. Crumbling foundation material was blamed for the span collapse.
CANADIAN BRIDGE FALLS INTO RIVERSupport of Giant Structure Crumbles; Loss Set at $4,000,000; 3,000 Watch as Section Falls
TAYLOR, B.C., Oct. 17--(AP)--Left without support when the shale crumbled beneath a 25,000-ton anchor block, the north span of the $4,000,000, 2,200-foot Alaska Highway suspension bridge crashed into the Peace River yesterday.
No one was injured and 3,000 persons watched as the 405-foot section buckled and dropped with a tremendous roar, seven hours after engineers had noted the northern anchor was sinking.
The collapse cut the main highway into Alaska but traffic--amounting to some 200 to 300 vehicles a day--was quickly rerouted to a small ferry 10 miles down stream.
The bridge is 600 miles north of Vancouver, B.C., and 40 miles northwest of Dawson Creek, B.C., starting point of the highway.
It was feared the center span of the bridge also would give way as its only support were two 100-foot cable towers. Engineers said the structure was sagging and might come down "pretty soon."
The breakup severed telegraph and telephone lines into the Yukon but new lines were being strung today.
The bridge, largest of 133 on the northern road, was built in 1942 by the United States Army when it constructed the then militarily vital Alaska Highway.
The structure has given trouble before. A 200-foot section washed out in 1942 and weakened piers had to be repaired in 1948.
The north anchorage is set in shale topped by shifting clay and some sand. A similar foundation has caused considerable trouble for the Pacific Great Eastern Railway line several miles up the river.
October 16, 2008--Johannesburg, South Africa: One Killed and Fourteen Injured in Three-Story Building Collapse.
Worker still missing after Roodepoort building collapse
Mail & Guardian Online
A three-storey building collapsed on Thursday in the Little Falls area of Roodepoort, killing one worker and injuring 14 others.
Another worker was missing, believed trapped under the rubble, and the rescue operation was continuing on Thursday afternoon.
Half of the nearly completed office block was destroyed when the top two storeys collapsed on to the bottom storey.
Emergency workers had cleared rubble by hand around an area where rescue dogs from the police dog unit were trying to locate the missing construction worker.
Some of the sniffer dogs were being distracted by the scent of the construction workers' bags.
Rescue efforts were further being hampered by rubble continuously shifting and settling into the hole where the missing man was presumed to be located.
Heavy equipment was removing rubble in areas where the dogs had not reacted, to decrease the chance of the equipment accidentally injuring the missing worker.
The mass of rubble, as wide and broad as four tennis courts, was very unstable with rescue workers stepping gingerly and keeping to stable areas only.
Private volunteers from K9 Offroad Rescue were being called in by Johannesburg disaster management officials to assist with and possibly hasten the rescue.
The Labour Department's building inspectors were waiting for the engineering plans to ascertain whether there may have been a fault with the design of the building. -- Sapa
