QCOSTARICA – A work accident left three dead at a Santa Ana construction site Tuesday when a crane lifting a concrete slab to be placed on beams, gave way.
The accident occurred around 11:00am in the construction of the new Automercado 100 metres from the Cruz Roja de Santa Ana.
The victims were identified as 27 year-old Ashley Pamela Vargas Hall, an engineer on the site, head of works Edilberto Gerardo Rodríguez Quirós, 52 años, and worker León Luis Silfredo Chaves Quirós, 47.
Apparently, the three were performing an inspection in the area when the accident occurred. Several other people in the area were able to flee the falling concrete, avoiding an even greater tragedy.
The Cuerpo de Bomberos, using specialized equipment to recover the bodies. The recovery was completed by 1:20pm.
Francisco Soto, of the Cruz Roda de Escazu, said the three were hit by four concrete beams, each 6 metres long and weighing some 2 tons. “Four concrete beams were being coupled to form a floor, the workers told us. The three people were below those structures when they gave way,” said the Red Cross official.
Soto added that a small infrared camera was used to detect the location of the bodies under the fallen material.
Relatives of the victims arrived at the site and required medical attention by paramedics due to the impact. None required transportation to a hospital.
The construction company, Edificar, in a statement to the press said it would be providing the necessary support to the families of the victims and will investigate the cause of the accident.
