Officials plan demolition of collapsed building in Washington

WASHINGTON, Pa. — A day after a woman was dramatically rescued from a collapsed building in Washington, officials are trying to determine the best way to finish demolishing what’s left of the structure.

Washington Councilman Ken Westcott said officials were waiting for property owners on either side of the collapsed building to agree with the demolition plan. The discussion revolves around liability for the construction company conducting the demolition, he said.

The building will be secured so the rest of it doesn’t collapse before expected storms move into the area, according to Westcott.

"We're working with a structural engineer, he's on site putting together a proposal shoring up loose ends of the building," Westcott said. "With the weather conditions ... the fear is going to be rain, high winds."

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The building is part of a cluster of structures on South Main Street, one of which rescue crews had to enter in order to break through a neighboring wall to save the woman, who was pinned beneath a refrigerator holding up tons of rubble.

Anthony Terry lived in the building. He was moving out Wednesday and left two hours before the collapse.

“I kept hearing clicking noises like something kept dropping, so I felt weird and I just left,” Terry said. “My apartment is right above their apartment. I would have been dead.”

Cox Media Group