A wooden pedestrian walkway collapsed at a construction site in downtown San Diego yesterday, injuring 16 people. As KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis explains its not clear who is going to investigate the accident.
The block-long construction scaffold collapsed in a busy area two blocks away from Petco Park. Police say the victims were rushed to two hospitals in nine ambulances shortly after noon.
The walkway was supposed to protect pedestrians from debris falling from a three-story building that was under construction.
Two homeless shelters, a transit center and plenty of small businesses surround that building.
California's Department of Occupational Health and Safety was called in to find out if any of the victims were employees. But the department's Erika Monterroza says they won't be investigating.
Monterroza:
No industrial injuries were reported. That means Cal OSHA will not open an investigation because no employees were involved in the accident.
Fire and rescue officials say its not in their jurisdiction to investigate either. The general contractor of the site is based in Carlsbad and was not available for comment.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
