On Thursday afternoon, a cement truck from Concrete Service Company fell through the parking deck at Moore Regional Hospital, crashing into the parking area below.
“A portion of the emergency department parking deck at Moore Regional Hospital has collapsed due to an incident with a cement truck,” FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Director of Public Relations Emily Sloan said to Sandhills Sentinel in an email.
Video by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Alex Juarez.
The cement truck arrived for construction work and fell from the top level of the two-level parking structure down to the second-level lobby parking while driving through the emergency room parking lot.
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Alex Juarez.
“Cars are unable to enter or exit the parking deck at this time. In the event of an emergency, patients should use the ambulance entrance,” said Sloan. “For non-emergent visits to the emergency department, parking is available in the conference center parking lot at the corner of Page Road and Hwy 211.”
A witness leaving the second-floor lobby was inches from the incident as it unfolded.
“I saw my life flash before my eyes,” said the person. “All I saw was what looked like rocks being thrown from above me, and then I heard rumbling, almost like thunder. I was scared for my life.”
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Alex Juarez.
Only one worker was inside the truck at the time of the incident. Sloan said there were no reported injuries, and authorities secured the site.
Video by Karen Everett.
A crane lifted the cement truck out of the parking deck later in the evening.
“We are awaiting the official report from structural engineers regarding the extent of damages to the parking deck and an estimated timeline for repairs,” Sloan said in an update to Sandhills Sentinel five days later. “In the meantime, the top level of the emergency department parking deck remains closed. The truck that fell through the top level of the deck was supposed to be in a different area on campus where construction is underway. The driver mistakenly turned into the parking deck.”
Feature photo: A cement truck falls through the FirstHealth Moore Regional parking deck around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 15. Photo contributed.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Alex Juarez.
