Parking garage worker who survived collapse in Lower Manhattan "in shock" over boss's sudden death
NEW YORK -- As crews continue to try and safely remove debris where a parking garage collapsed in Lower Manhattan, one of the survivors is speaking out.
Pierre Vancol, a garage employee, told CBS2 he's depressed after his boss was killed in the collapse and that it brought him traumatic flashbacks of earthquakes in his home in Haiti.
"I'm not OK. I'm still in shock," said Vancol, an Enterprise Ann parking attendant.
READ MORE: Pierre Vancol, employee who survived parking garage collapse, says he spotted structural issues
Vancol said it was like a movie when he and his coworkers were leaving Tuesday afternoon. Vancol's boss and the garage's manager, Willis Moore, was the only person who died in the collapse.
"If it happened between 4:30 to 6, a lot of people was dying inside, because it was a rush hour day," said Vancol.
Vancol spoke with first responders when they arrived.
"I said I got one guy up there, on the roof, and I got Mr. Willis on the second floor over there," Vancol said.
READ MORE: Workers continue precise demolition of collapsed Lower Manhattan parking garage
According to Vancol, another garage employee was trapped in an elevator, but he was eventually rescued.
Unfortunately, it was too late for Moore, 59, who Vancol said clocked out for the day and went upstairs minutes before the tragedy. Vancol said he called Moore right after he heard the collapse.
"When I try calling him, he never answered and I said something happened to Willis," said Vancol.
READ MORE: Workers continue precise demolition of collapsed Lower Manhattan parking garage
Vancol said the rumbling from the collapse brought back painful memories of an earthquake he experienced in Haiti and that he'll remember Moore fondly.
"He's a good boss. He's a good person. He give me opportunity to have a job," said Vancol.
A parking garage customer said she thought of Moore as an uncle.
"I think me tearing up just thinking about him, just shows what he meant to so many people that he helped everyday, day in and day out," said Regina Graham.
Friday, for the third day, crews carefully worked to remove debris at the collapse site on Ann Street to try to preserve surrounding buildings.
Enterprise Ann Parking said it is fully cooperating with city agencies and other authorities investigating the collapse.
According to Vancol, the owner had the garage examined by outside workers who took pictures and notes just three weeks ago.