Construction accident probe continues

Local, state, federal agencies respond to site

EAST HAMPTON — Inspectors from myriad town and state agencies continued Friday to pore over a commercial building that partially collapsed Thursday afternoon, injuring three workers.

The 8,000 square-foot building, located at 207 West High St., is owned by developer Wayne Rand and is being constructed to house a daycare facility. Efforts to reach Rand Friday were not immediately successful.

Using a crane, workers were putting roof trusses in place when one of the trusses collapsed, causing “a domino effect” that sent other trusses falling either to the ground or into the interior of the structure, officials said.

Three workers were injured in the 2:10 p.m. incident, including one who reportedly suffered a broken pelvis.

Two waves of officials descended upon the site: the first wave was made up of first responders who took two of the workers to local hospitals.

The two men, the one with the broken pelvis, the other with an ankle injury, were first taken to the Middlesex Hospital Marlborough Health Center, but were then transferred to

Hartford Hospital, Police Chief Dennis S. Woessner said Friday.

The third worker, who suffered a head injury, reportedly was driven by a friend to Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Woessner said.

The first responders were then followed to the scene by numerous local and state building and safety officials, led by East Hampton building official Glen LeConche.

In swift order, investigators

from the state fire marshal’s office and the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration joined LeConche at the scene.

Because the crew was using a crane to lift the trusses into place, the Connecticut State Police crane inspection unit also was called to the scene to join the multi-agency inspections.

The company that built the trusses was also reported to be sending a team to inspect them.

The various investigators worked well into the evening and then many of them returned to the site Friday morning.

LeConche asked Town Manager Michael Maniscalco to have the town’s engineering firm, Anchor Engineering Services Inc., join him at the site to determine if the remaining portion of the building is stable enough to remain standing or will it have to be demolished.