City Building Inspection Bureau To Launch Full Study After Stairwell Collapse
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A North Side woman remains in the hospital after a metal staircase collapsed on top of her outside her apartment on Thursday evening.
She is in fair condition, but the accident has gotten the attention of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection. Here's an update on what has happened since the accident.
If you walk around the complex, you can see that many of the metal steps are rusty or corroded. And some who love her say they have made numerous complaints.
A 10-year resident of the Allegheny Commons East complex, Tonia Davis, told KDKA's Brenda Waters: "There haven't been no maintenance on these steps, none of the steps; so this was bound to happen."
And what residents feared, did happen on Thursday night.
As 51-year-old Annette Wade walked down the metal steps from her North Side apartment at Allegheny Commons East, the entire structure collapsed, trapping her for more than 30 minutes.
Before Wade could be transported to Allegheny General Hospital, firefighters and paramedics had to use a blow torch to free her.
Another neighbor says it's a shame this had to happen, but at least it brings attention to the problem, even though the rental is aware that this is "an ongoing problem."
The Section 8 complex is owned by Winn-Residential in Boston.
The statement they gave KDKA's Brenda Waters is the same one posted on the doors of residents: "We are investigating the cause of this unfortunate incident and fully cooperating with local officials."
Officials they will be cooperating with represent the Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection who was on the scene Friday. The agency plans to begin a full engineering study on all the structures beginning next week.
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