Concrete Slab Falls Off Milwaukee Parking Structure, Killing One and Injuring Two
According to reports, one person was killed and two injured when a piece of concrete fell from a parking ramp on the Milwaukee lakefront. The person killed is reported to be a 15-year-old boy and the two injured are reportedly a mother and her 15-year-old son.
The piece of concrete that collapsed was reported as a 30-foot slab. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, at about 4 p.m., only a couple blocks from Milwaukee’s popular Summerfest music festival, which began that same afternoon and attracts thousands of people.
The parking garage, reported to be underneath O’Donnell Park, was built in the 1990s. According to reports, the concrete slab came loose from the façade of the structure.
Investigators have not released the names of the victims.
According to reports, the construction of O’Donnell Park, which sits atop the parking structure, was plagued with problems which included cracks in the structure because of the weight of the park.
Cracks in the structure, reportedly first discovered in May 1991, led to the removal of tons of dirt from the park to reduce the load. In addition, repair and reinforcement of the structure was also reportedly carried out. Further, the county fired the architect working on the project, Jordan Miller, after discovery of the cracks.
