Four individuals were transported to local hospitals on Monday following a significant incident in Miami's Brickell neighborhood where a construction rig collapsed, striking three vehicles and a construction container. The collapse trapped two workers and triggered a vehicle fire, according to Miami Fire Rescue.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. near Southeast 12th Street and Brickell Bay Drive. Miami Fire Rescue units responded to the scene, and the Technical Rescue Team worked to free two victims who were trapped inside a crushed construction container. The four individuals who were hospitalized were reported to be in stable condition.
Miami Fire Chief Robert Hevia stated that firefighters rescued the two workers, aged 27 and 29, from the container. Simultaneously, crews battled a fire that erupted after the rig fell onto a BMW. The driver of the BMW managed to escape the burning vehicle. The rig also crushed two other unoccupied parked vehicles.
The rig operator, 47, and the driver of the BMW were among the four transported to hospitals with minor injuries. Hevia noted that all 18 construction workers on site were accounted for and unharmed. He described the scene as complex, with firefighters working on extinguishing the blaze while the technical rescue team extricated the trapped individuals.
The Miami Police Department had advised motorists to avoid the area due to road closures on Brickell Bay Drive between SE 12th Street and SE 13th Street, anticipating delays and urging caution.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collapse. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the incident. Reports indicate the collapse occurred at the site planned for billionaire Ken Griffin's Citadel headquarters.