COLUMBUS, Ind. — Construction framework at a downtown property collapsed Thursday morning amid high winds.
The incident occurred at 11th and Washington, where developers are working to create a new gas station and convenience store. Columbus Code Enforcement Officer Fred Barnett said this took place sometime before 10 a.m.
“Apparently the wind had actually collapsed the walls and they fell kind of in on themselves,” he said. “And the only wall that was remaining standing was the wall that was facing 11th Street.”
Out of concern for pedestrian safety, Burnett took emergency action and had the city garage knock down the remaining wall so that it wouldn’t fall into the street.
He doesn’t believe there is any danger of the wind blowing the collapsed materials around. He said the materials were all two-by-fours that are now stacked on top of each other, and the contractors are “getting it taken care of.”
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Bartholomew County until 7 p.m. Thursday, warning of 15 to 25 mph southwest winds and gusts up to 45 mph.
“With the wind the way it came in, I’m not really surprised,” said Bartholomew County Chief Code Enforcement Officer Michelle Cox. “But any time you’ve got winds and you’ve got framing started like that, it can happen. Luckily it doesn’t happen very often.”
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
