Man suffers life-threatening injuries after "structural collapse" at Boston building; 2 others hospitalized

Three people were injured Wednesday in a "structural collapse" at a building in Boston, local authorities said. Two people were hospitalized, while a third was extricated hours later and taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Boston Fire Commissioner Jack Dempsey said a piece of flooring that was only attached at one end collapsed at the Edison Power Plant building in South Boston around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday. A victim, identified only as a male, was pinned under the collapsed flooring. About 100 firefighters, as well as a surgeon, responded to get him out.

While they were working to free the victim, authorities gave him pain medication and cared for him, Dempsey said. They were considering amputation, but Dempsey would not elaborate. Steven McHugh, deputy superintendent of Boston EMS, said his injuries were to his legs.

The other injured workers, who were only in the area of the collapse, sustained minor injuries, the fire commissioner said.

"I want to send all of our love and support and incredible emotion over to the families of those who were impacted today — the colleagues and coworkers of folks who had this very sudden, incredibly dangerous situation happen," Mayor Michelle Wu said. She also thanked all of the people who responded to the scene.

The Boston Police Department's homicide division is leading the investigation because of the one victim's life-threatening injuries, said police superintendent Felipe Colon. The investigation is ongoing.

It was the second reported collapse in Boston in the last several weeks. At the end of March, a construction worker was killed while working on the demolition of the Government Center Parking Garage. The worker, identified as 51-year-old Peter Monsini by CBS Boston, suffered a "substantial fall" when part of the parking garage collapsed, Dempsey confirmed at the time.

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