Parking garage collapse claims one life

A two-floor parking garage, adjacent to a 17-storey apartment building on Deguire Boulevard in Saint-Laurent collapsed last Wednesday. One man in his car was killed under the debris.

The victim, a courier for a dental supplies company, had just parked his car when the second floor of the garage collapsed.

The cause remains unknown. “We leave this task to the engineers,” said Montreal Fire Department Spokesperson Aimé Charette, at a press conference held at the scene of the incident.

The rescue team, made up firefighters and ambulances, had to reinforce the structure to remove debris and ensure that the collapse would not claim more lives.

The children in the daycare were quickly moved to another building. At the scene several residents were worried about when they would be able to go back to their apartment. “I do not have insurance,” said one tenant, who came from work to see what was going on.

The Red Cross relocated approximately 600 tenants to Saint-Laurent’s Centre des loisirs on Grenet Street. “We want to ensure that people are safe with all the necessary care,” said Saint-Laurent Mayor Alan DeSousa, who was on the scene after the collapse. “An agreement with the Red Cross for housing over a longer stay can be undertaken if necessary.”

The borough also heard from Henri-Beaulieu School, to house the children of the affected building. “We wanted to ensure that they can eat at school and not return to the building,” he added.

The borough of Saint-Laurent made a point of saying they had not received any complaints regarding the structure at 135 Deguire Boulevard. Complaints for the building maintenance were however registered. Following the incident this morning, the borough requested from Quebec’s Régie du bâtiment for immediate action in order to ensure that the underground parking garages of buildings similar to 135 Deguire Boulevard are safe.

(Translated by Michael Beigleman)

(Photo: Martin Alarie)