Associated Press
CHICAGO – Scaffolding from the landmark John Hancock Building fell on a busy downtown street and crushed cars Saturday, killing three people and critically injuring two, a fire department spokesman said.
Unusually high winds were whipping through the area, but it was too soon to say if they caused the 25 feet of scaffolding to fall from the 43rd floor, fire department Cmdr. Tim Stokes said.
Winds gusted up to 58 mph at a downtown airport around the time of the collapse, according to the National Weather Service.
Those killed were in three cars that were crushed by the debris, Stokes said. Glass also rained down on the crowded streets. No crews were believed to be working on the scaffolding Saturday.
Two people suffered less serious injuries, Stokes said.
The 100-story Hancock building, the city’s third-tallest building, anchors the north end of the city’s busy Michigan Avenue shopping district.
Streets in the area were closed and traffic rerouted after the accident, in part due to fear of more falling debris.
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