Stonington Co. Construction Project Collapses in RI

By Mark Schielderop (Patch Staff)

A building whose construction was being managed by a North Stonington company collapsed in Smithfield, RI, Tuesday.

Authorities said six people suffered non life-threatening injuries when the steel framework of the Bryant University building collapsed, sending metal beams to the ground and on top of construction vehicles and workers.

A swarm of emergency responders from Smithfield and neighboring towns rushed to the scene after the collapse was reported at around 8:15 a.m.

The building is a new indoor practice facility that is under construction and part of a multi-million dollar expansion project underway on the school’s campus.

“They just started construction on it, they were erecting steel, something happened at the site and the steel structure that was in place fell over,” said Smithfield Fire Chief Robert W. Seltzer. “We’re not sure why that happened, it’s under investigation at this time.”

Members of the Smithfield Police and Fire Departments were first to respond the scene and the first unit immediately called for more. Authorities signaled for a level 1 response, which automatically dispatched five more units to the scene. A couple more were called after that, Seltzer said.

None of the workers were trapped under the steel or had to be extricated, according to a News Times report via the Associated Press.

The six injured were transported to Rhode Island Hospital.

University spokeswoman Elizabeth O’Neil said that only a few students are on campus this week as classes don’t begin until next week. No students were near the site when the collapse occurred.

“We are cooperating fully with authorities and will advise as more facts become available to us,” O’Neill said. “This incident will have no impact on the opening of school as students return this weekend and classes begin Sept. 8.”

AZ Corp. Construction Management of North Stonington, Conn., was managing the project. A call to the company was answered by a woman who said the company wasn’t aware of a building collapse and wasn’t taking any calls, according to the News Times.

Federal workplace safety regulators have been notified.

The facility will include a 100-yard covered turf field and will total 78,000 square feet in all, O’Neill said. Beams were installed beginning 10 days ago. The structure was only partially completed when it collapsed.

More details will be posted as they become available.

Photo: by Kainani Stevens of ABC6