Parking Garage Collapse Still Being Investigated
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Investigators in Dallas are still looking into the exact cause of a collapse at a parking garage in the Turtle Creek area. It happened on Friday night at the Renaissance condos, as record rainfall poured down across nearly all of North Texas.
The top level of the parking garage gave way, and so did several more levels below.
But the powerful storms should not have been enough to take down the concrete structure. Heavy construction materials were being stored on the garage's top level -- including crushed concrete, dirt and rocks -- and investigators are trying to determine if that is to blame.
Crews on Monday continued work on the complex's pool deck, which is undergoing renovations. But that construction project should not have started yet. A general contractor filed for an application to do the work, however, the City of Dallas had never issued a permit because officials still had some questions.
The city wants an explanation from the contractor about why this happened, and a report from a structural engineer detailing how to safely get the remaining cars out of the garage.
The garage is used by hundreds of residents who live at the Renaissance condos. They too are digging for answers, while being grateful that nobody was hurt during the collapse. "This is a miracle on Turtle Creek," said condo board member Dedie Leahy. "We have about 1,000 residents in the three towers and not one injury."
The condo association's insurance company is paying for rental cars for residents who had their own vehicles damaged in the collapse. Repairs could take up to six months.