Associated Press
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Recovery crews found a body early Saturday in the rubble of a parking garage that partially collapsed earlier in the week.
Authorities had not been able to pull the body from the debris by Saturday afternoon, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue spokeswoman Maggie Bulin said.
Bulin said she expected the body to be retrieved by the end of the day. An autopsy to identify the victim was also scheduled for later Saturday.
Rescuers had been searching since Thursday for Willie Edwards III, a construction worker believed to be trapped under the concrete debris. Bulin said Edwards’ family has been notified that a body was found.
The garage, which was under construction for a riverfront condominium complex, collapsed Thursday as workers were pouring concrete for the sixth story deck. The back half of the structure remained standing.
Officials said they do not yet know what caused the collapse, which sent 14 workers to the hospital.