Worker dies after building collapse in Bronzeville

The collapse occurred shortly after 11 a.m. in the 700 block of East Oakwood Boulevard, Chicago fire officials said.

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The Chicago Fire Department cordons off the area after a building collapse in the 700 block of East Oakwood Boulevard in Bronzeville Thursday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

A worker has died after being trapped under debris when part of a building collapsed Thursday morning in Bronzeville.

The collapse occurred shortly after 11 a.m. in the 700 block of East Oakwood Boulevard, Chicago Fire Department officials said.

Three workers had been in the building, and one of them was unaccounted for when firefighters arrived, officials said. The worker was found about 30 minutes later, officials said.

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The worker was trapped under 3 to 5 feet of debris, Deputy Fire Department Chief Shaun Hayes told reporters at the scene.

He was removed just before noon and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in “grave condition,” fire officials said.

Pedro Santiago-Mateos, 35, was pronounced dead shortly afterward, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Julius Hall, 43, who lives a block away from the scene, told the Sun-Times that crews had been working on the building since the summer.

The Department of Buildings issued a permit for interior demolition on Sept. 9, 2022. However, the work that was in progress was not in compliance with the permit, according to Department of Buildings spokesman Michael Puccinelli.

Officials have not determined the cause of the collapse.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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