A Chicago demolition worker escaped with only minor injuries after being trapped for nearly an hour when a roof collapsed during a scheduled demolition Tuesday afternoon of a Menard's store in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates.
Police and fire personnel responded to a partial building collapse in the 2300 block of West Higgins Road at 3:55 p.m., according to Arlington Heights police Sgt. Greg Poulos, who said the incident happened during a scheduled demolition of a Menard’s store.
A demolition worker became trapped under a roof, which collapsed during the demolition. Crews were immediately able to make contact with the man, who was trapped in a three-foot high pocket under the collapsed roof, Poulos said.
Crews provided the 45-year-old Chicago man with a radio to communicate with emergency personnel and also cut a hole in the roof to check his air quality. Crews then stabilized a portion of the roof and cut out an area to allow for the man to climb out of the space, Poulos said.
The man was rescued about 4:50 p.m. and was taken to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, where he was treated and released within an hour, Poulos said. He suffered only minor injuries.
Poulos described the worker as "the luckiest man alive," due to the three-foot high pocket, which prevented major injuries.
Members of the Hoffman Estates Code Enforcement and investigators from OSHA arrived at the scene and the remaining portion of the partially collapsed wall was safely demolished.
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