Bracing of fallen wall that killed 3 under review

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wsbt.com/news/regional/22102244.html

Story Created: Jun 27, 2008 at 5:50 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 28, 2008 at 12:11 PM EDT

GREENWOOD, Ind. (AP) — Investigators were trying to determine Friday whether construction workers had properly braced a wall before it collapsed on them during a storm, killing three men.

Authorities still were uncertain how much of a factor the storm might have played in the fatal accident Thursday. A thunderstorm passed through the southern Indianapolis suburb shortly after 4 p.m., about the same time the wall fell at the Dayton Freight Lines construction site.

Jeff Carter, deputy commissioner of the Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration, said investigators were studying whether the concrete block wall, which was partially built that day, was properly braced when the storm hit.

Greenwood police said Friday that workers for contractor Division 4 Masonry Inc. of Brownsburg told investigators that a supervisor warned them about approaching storm and told them to install additional bracing and cover the 25-foot-high wall from the rain.

They were completing that work when the interior, non load-bearing wall collapsed, police said. Thirteen workers were on site at the time in an industrial park near Interstate 65.

Those killed were Pedro Martinez, 24; Jose Mora, 33; and Manuel Martinez, 22, all of Indianapolis. Two others were injured and were taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. One was listed as stable while the other was in serious condition Friday, a hospital spokesman said.

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