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One hurt in floor collapse at Temple construction site

A section of floor of a building under construction at Temple University buckled Thursday afternoon, sending one person to the hospital with unspecified injuries that were described as not life-threatening.

Philadelphia fire department was called to the site of an under construction steel framed building on the campus of Temple University at 12th and Berks that partially collapsed on Thursday afternoon July 11, 2013. ( ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER )
Philadelphia fire department was called to the site of an under construction steel framed building on the campus of Temple University at 12th and Berks that partially collapsed on Thursday afternoon July 11, 2013. ( ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER )Read more

A section of floor of a building under construction at Temple University buckled Thursday afternoon, sending one person to the hospital with unspecified injuries that were described as not life-threatening.

"I heard the rattling. I thought it was a car accident," said Temple junior Maria Macri, 21, who was leaving class in a nearby building when the steel beam tumbled. "I could see smoke coming up, and debris."

The structure at 12th Street and Polett Walk is currently a six-story skeleton. Initial indications were that a failed connector on the fifth floor caused the beam to fall, according to Temple spokesman Ray Betzner.

The man injured, a construction worker, was at Temple University Hospital in stable condition, Betzner said.

The building is to become the seven-story home of the Science Education and Research Center, a 250,000-square-foot, $137 million project due for completion in fall 2014.

The Fire Department declared the situation under control about 2:15 p.m.

"It was loud. It was scary. I'm still kind of shaken," said Veronica Hudacek, 27, who is studying for a master's degree in music education. She said she was walking on 12th near the structure when the section collapsed.

University, state, and federal officials will investigate, Betzner said.

A portion of 12th Street was closed after the incident. Betzner said 12th would remain closed to motor traffic from Norris Street to Montgomery Avenue through Monday.