One person died and another was freed four hours after a 50,000-pound section of a parking garage at a Bethesda mall collapsed Thursday afternoon.
The Westfield Montgomery Mall's garage, near Macy's and the mall's food court, was under renovation. Only construction workers were inside during the accident, which occurred just before 2 p.m.
Officials confirmed one construction worker died just before 4 p.m. and a second worker with life-threatening injuries was freed two hours later and hospitalized.
News4's Mark Segraves reported several other construction workers suffered minor injuries.
Emergency medical personnel from the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore responded to the scene, as did as many as 100 other emergency responders.
Maryland's Go-Team, an advanced resuscitation team from Shock Trauma that can respond to seriously injured patients and those that face extrication that may last an hour or more, was called to the scene as well.
One woman who had parked close to the parking garage told News4's Tom Sherwood that she had gotten into her car and was driving away when she heard a "loud crash."
There was no structural damage to the mall. But one section of the mall was closed, and entrances near the parking garage were taped off.
Westlake Drive and Democracy Boulevard is closed to traffic at this time.
The collapse happened on the first level of the multi-story garage, Segraves reported. There was no immediate information as to the cause of the crash.
The Westfield Montgomery Mall opened its doors in March 1968. It originally featured a Hecht’s, Garfinckel’s, Sears and 58 smaller shops. The mall, located on Democracy Boulevard near I-270 and I-495, is the largest in the Bethesda area.
In 2007, The Montgomery County Planning Board approved plans to add 360,000 feet of retail space to the 1.2 million-square-foot mall.
There are plans underway to construct a 16-screen, 60,000 square foot ArcLight Cinema above the parking garage on the west side of the mall that was projected to open in spring 2014. Redevelopment plans also include a new and expanded dining terrace.
This renovation project closed the food court parking garage, which is expected to reopen in fall 2013.
Representatives with the Westfield Mall released the following statement Thursday evening:
"As has been reported, earlier today a construction-related accident occurred at Westfield Montgomery. The accident occurred in a parking deck that was closed for redevelopment. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in serious injuries to what is believed to be two victims, including one fatality. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the victims and their families.
Emergency responders continue to operate on site, Westfield is working closely with these authorities and is grateful for their rapid and comprehensive response. Responders and investigators are working in and around the closed and quarantined parking structure."
Mila Mimica, Mark Segraves, Tom Sherwood and Joshua Axelrod contributed to this report.