CHANDLER, AZ — Three people had to be hoisted up and out of a construction site at Intel's Ocotillo Campus in Chandler on Wednesday afternoon after a portion of the construction site collapsed, according to Chandler Fire Department.
All three people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Chandler Fire.
Air15 video showed more than a dozen emergency crews and construction workers at the construction site, near Dobson and Ocotillo roads. At least one of the patients was seen being loaded onto an orange basket and with the help of a crane, lifted out a trench at the construction site. Chandler fire says the area they were rescued from was approximately 25 feet below ground level.
Watch ABC15 aerials of the rescue recorded earlier.
"They were never under the concrete. They were on top of it, but still, in a position they could not get out of on their own,” said Chandler Fire Battalion Chief Keith Welch of the three victims. “The incidents don't happen often. But, when they do, they are highly emotional for the individuals who are on the scene. They also can be very dangerous for the rescuers when they get there for the instability.”
One woman, whose husband works at the site and was not hurt, talked with ABC15 minutes after firefighters arrived.
"I am praying for the families that have someone in there,” said Chelsea Shumway. “I mean construction is always a little bit scary. But, they take a lot of precautions out here. I don't worry too much."
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
ABC15 has reached out to Intel for a statement or more details on what happened but we have not gotten a response.
