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Partial Parking Deck Collapse In Midtown Atlanta

Posted: 12:30 pm EDT June 29, 2009Updated: 6:54 pm EDT June 29, 2009

Part of a parking deck collapsed in Midtown Atlanta Monday, sending cars crashing to the bottom of the structure.

Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that Hardin Construction, the same company cited and fined in connection with the collapse of a pedestrian walkway at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, built the Centergy Parking deck that collapsed Monday, according to city of Atlanta records.

One worker was killed and 18 others were injured in the ordeal.


RAW: Parking Deck Collapses In Midtown Atlanta

"I was driving in the parking deck and I saw the deck collapsing. I saw concrete and cars falling," said Matt Jones.

Jones told WSBTV.com that he jumped out of his vehicle and ran into a nearby stairwell.

"I left my car sitting there," said Jones, who was heading to L.A. Fitness gym on his day off.

Atlanta Fire Department officials confirmed that four floors of the Centergy Parking deck near the intersection of Spring Street and 5th Street collapsed onto lower floors. Fire officials said roughly 35 vehicles were damaged and that a structural engineer was being called to the scene.

“I was walking out, there was boom, lots of air, lots of dust everywhere,” an eyewitness told Channel 2 Action News reporter Jodie Fleischer.

Though the parking facility is not on the Georgia Tech campus, approximately 135 spaces within the deck are leased to Tech employees through the Georgia Tech parking office, said a representative for the school.

Search and rescue crews were combing through the area. There are no reports of any injuries.

News Chopper 2 was over the scene and video showed a section of at least one floor of the multi-floor deck collapsed. Cars could be seen piled on top of each other.

Atlanta police said drivers should avoid the area, as Spring St. between 10th Street and 5th Street will remain closed overnight and possibly Tuesday.


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