"6 killed in Philadelphia building collapse" by Kathy Matheson and Keith Collins | Associated Press, June 06, 2013
PHILADELPHIA — A building that was being torn down collapsed with a thunderous boom on Wednesday, raining bricks on a neighboring thrift store, killing six people and injuring at least 14 others in an accident that witnesses said was bound to happen....
Several witnesses said they had been casting a wary eye on the demolition site and questioned how the workers were tackling the job. That raised questions about how closely the highly visible spot on Market Street, one of Philadelphia’s signature boulevards, was being monitored.
Why was this cut?:
Roofer Patrick Glynn said he had been watching workers take down the building over the past few weeks, and said he suspected a collapse was inevitable.
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Related: Answers sought in deadly Philadelphia building collapse
The company was cutting corners, 'eh?
"Worker to be charged in Pa. building collapse" June 08, 2013
PHILADELPHIA — A 42-year-old man who was allegedly high on marijuana while operating demolition equipment when a downtown building collapsed and killed six people will be charged with involuntary manslaughter, a top city official said Friday.
Translation: this guy tested positive after the accident, thus they are scapegoating him. It really is a corporate government.
Sean Benschop faces six counts on that charge, six counts of risking catastrophe, and other charges, said Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison.
Authorities said Benschop was using an excavator on Wednesday when what was left of the four-story building fell on a neighboring Salvation Army thrift store.
A toxicology report, witness statements, and other evidence showed that Benschop was high on marijuana that day, Gillison said.
What evidence?
Benschop, who also goes by the name Kary Roberts, has been arrested at least 11 times since 1994 on charges ranging from drugs to theft to weapons possession, according to court records. He was twice sentenced to prison in the 1990s after being convicted on drug trafficking charges.
Then how did he pass the background check on the job?
Benschop’s last arrest, for aggravated assault, came in January 2012, but the case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
Police have raided Benschop’s home but have not found him, Gillison added.
He's on foot in Philly!
Benschop did not return phone messages left at numbers listed in his name, though he told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday that he couldn’t comment because of the investigation....
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Yeah, NOTHING about the WEEKS WORTH of problems and neglect, folks. It's all this guy who was high's fault.
NEXT DAY UPDATE:
"Worker surrenders in Pa. building collapse
PHILADELPHIA — A heavy- equipment operator, who has a lengthy arrest record and is accused of being high on marijuana when a building collapsed onto a thrift store, killing six people, turned himself in Saturday, police said. Sean Benschop faces six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of risking a catastrophe. Authorities believe the 42-year-old Benschop had been using an excavator Wednesday when the remains of the four-story building gave way and toppled onto an attached Salvation Army thrift store (AP)."
Either the buzz wore off or he wasn't high enough to be killed over this.
UPDATE: Grand jury to review building collapse
