Crews recover body of worker from rubble of partially collapsed building in Cincinnati

UPDATE @ 10:25 a.m. (Nov. 27)

The man found dead after he was trapped in debris from a partial building collapse in Cincinnati has been identified.

Preston Todd Delph, 58, of Hebron, was found at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday after the collapse at Fourth and Race on Monday, according to our news partner, WCPO-TV.

Delph worked for a subcontractor hired for work on the building, and he was checking for concrete seepage when the floor above him collapsed, WCPO reported.

UPDATE @ 8:58 p.m. (Nov. 26): Crews that have been searching through the rubble of the partially collapsed building in downtown Cincinnati have recovered the body of the missing worker, City Manager Patrick Duhaney said in a prepared statement sent to City Council tonight.

“The heart of the City of Cincinnati goes out to the family and friends of the deceased,” Duhaney said in the statement. “This is a truly sad day for our City. I cannot imagine the grief this family must be going through at this time.”

Duhaney thanked the first responders from the city and the region that have worked around the clock.

>> RELATED: Butler County team assisted in the search for the worker

>> RELATED: Ohio Task Force 1 also sent 2 K-9s to help with search

“I want to assure you that the City will provide the necessary support to the agencies involved to get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.

The situation remains fluid and more details will be released at an appropriate time by the appropriate parties, Duhaney said.

UPDATE @ 10:25 p.m. (Nov. 25): 

The recovery operation continues for a worker trapped in the rubble of the partial building collapse in downtown Cincinnati.

>> Coroner called for person hit by train in Butler County

The city’s mayor and Turner Construction Company, the project contractor, issued statements tonight:

Mayor John Cranley: "As search teams continue their work tonight, we pray for the man not yet found, his family and crew. The men and women who build this city do not come to work every day without risk, and today is a painful reminder of that. We thank our first responders who helped several people hurt today and are still working at this hour to bring closure to this sad day."

Turner Construction Company: 

We can confirm at this time that four workers who were injured at the construction project at Fourth and Race have been treated and released from local hospitals. We truly appreciate the care provided by Cincinnati’s first responders and local hospital medical staffs.  One worker remains missing. Recovery efforts are ongoing and we continue to hope and pray for the best. As we continue to gather information, we are encouraging workers to utilize the grief counseling services that are available to them  Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

UPDATE @ 8:41 p.m.: 

A recovery effort, not rescue, has begun at the scene of the partial building collapse in downtown Cincinnati, our news partner at WCPO-TV is reporting.

>>Body found near where missing Mansfield man was found dead

UPDATE @ 7:06 p.m.:

Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco declined to confirm media reports that a construction worker still inside the rubble of a partially collapsed building in downtown Cincinnati was dead.

As many as three people were taken to hospitals after they were injured in the building collapse near West Fourth and Race streets just after 1 p.m. Monday

More than 6 hours later, Sammarco told our news partner at WCPO-TV at least one more worker remained in the building after hours of searching and digging.

There was a chance, she said, the worker could be alive.

“[The family is] hoping for a miracle,” she said. “We’re hoping for a miracle.”

Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston said crews would continue with the search.

One other Cincinnati-based media outlet was reporting that a construction union chief said a worker had died in the rubble.

INITIAL REPORT

At least three people have been injured and one person is believed to be missing after a partial building collapse in downtown Cincinnati Monday afternoon.

The collapse happened near the intersections of West Fourth and Race streets, according to our news partners WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.

Three people were taken to Cincinnati-area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to “more serious,” Cincinnati Fire Chief Roy Winston told WCPO-TV.

Firefighters are searching for at least one worker who is believed to be missing, according to a social media post by the Cincinnati Fire Department.

Ohio Task Force 1, based in Kettering, has sent two K-9s to assist firefighters with the search efforts, according to OH-TF1 Public Information Officer Phil Sinewe.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

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