ADAMS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Three workers were injured when a roof collapsed at a building under construction in Adams Township.

“Appears that it was what’s called a truss roof failure,” Adams Area Fire Chief Al Minjock said. “So the trusses were being set in place on top of the roof and the roof subsequently failed, causing it to collapse over the gentlemen.”

He says three workers were trapped on the roof between trusses of the new business plaza under construction at 158 Brickyard Road.

“We estimate each one probably weighs 400 to 500 pounds, each of the trusses,” Minjock said. “A lot of complaints of chest and abdominal pain, orthopedic kind of injuries – just a lot of pain.”

Amanda Maynard, 15, witnessed the collapse.

“I was just standing right here and I was just watching them put the roof up and I just all of a sudden seen this building start collapsing, the roof just caving in and it was like domino effect and then it just sounded like a firework went off,” she said.

Minjock says the situation could have been a lot worse – not only for the three injured workers, but for the rescue crews.

“Could have been fatal – very easily could have been fatal,” he said.

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