Worker dies after Chicago building partially collapses in Bronzeville

CHICAGO - A worker who became trapped when a three-story building partially collapsed Thursday morning in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood has died.

The collapse happened while three people were working at the vacant building that was under construction around 11 a.m. in the 700 block of East Oakwood Boulevard, according to fire officials.

Crews found the worker under a pile of debris roughly 3-5 feet deep and were able to pull him from the rubble before noon, fire officials said.

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He was transported in an ambulance to the University of Chicago Medical Center in grave condition, police said. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to the Cook County medical examiner.

Pictures of the scene showed stacks of bricks and wood among the rubble.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately clear.

Julius Hall, 43, who lives a block away from the scene told the Sun-Times that crews had been working on the building since the summer.

The building is connected to another three-flat that is occupied. The Building Department will make the final decision on if the structure has to be torn down.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the workers impacted by today's partial building collapse at 749 E. Oakwood Boulevard.   DOB will work with our City agencies as they complete their investigation of this incident.  A DOB demolition team is at the site removing any portion of the building that can't be saved," the Department of Buildings said in a statement.

The building is 141 years old.