DOB: Worker Error Caused Queens House Collapse
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The Department of Buildings said worker error is to blame for a house collapse in Queens that nearly killed two construction workers Friday afternoon.
Officials said the workers were working on a home at on 231st Street in Laurelton when it came crashing down.
The DOB said the construction company had the proper permits to enlarge the rear of the house and remove an illegal basement apartment but workers removed a critical support beam in the rear wall, causing the two side walls to collapse.
Four men escaped but two workers had to be rescued by the New York City Fire Department.
"The building kinda rocked for a while then all of a sudden the just collapsed and came down in a split second," said one witness.
"The Fire Department Companies went in and took the two men out very quickly," said Capt. Claude Hagen of the FDNY. "Got a ladder, pulled them out and the injuries were non-life-threatening."
The DOB issued a stop-work order on the project and the agency said A and S Construction will be fined.