Published in the March 17, 2016 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Four workers were taken to various hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a wall collapsed at a construction site on Line Road early this morning.
Firefighters, Action Ambulance and police responded to 18 Line Rd. at about 6:30 a.m. after a neighbor called to report hearing a loud bang followed by people screaming.
Responding firefighters found that the second-floor gable-end wall had collapsed at a house that was under construction. According to Fire Chief Michael Sullivan, one of the construction workers managed to walk out of the building but three others were trapped under the wall on the second floor and had to be carried out on backboards by firefighters.
Three of the workers were taken by ambulance to Mass. General Hospital, one with internal injuries, one with arm and back injuries and a third with a knee injury. Another worker was taken to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital with a knee injury. Action sent four ambulances to the scene.
Sullivan said that the fact the house was only partially constructed presented a challenge for firefighters trying to get to the second floor. He said that they had to use a ladder and a partially constructed stairway to make their way to the second floor where they first had to stabilize the collapsed wall. They then had to use a ladder to take the injured down on backboards from the second floor.
Sullivan said that the Fire Department sent Engine 1 and Ladder 1 to the scene. He said that Building Inspector Jack Roberto also responded to the site.
The Fire Chief commended responding crews for their handling of a difficult situation, noting that they were able to get to the injured fairly quickly.
