Half Of East Carson Road Closed Over Fears Constructing Might Totally Collapse – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A block of East Carson Street is shut down over fears a building that investigators believe was struck by lightning will fully collapse onto the road.

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The road is closed between 16th and 17th street in both directions. Police say they made the decision to close it because it’s a public safety issue. With more rain on the way, they fear the building will collapse onto itself and into the busy roadway.

(Photo Credit: Meghan Schiller/KDKA)

It’s a traffic change that comes before a Friday night on the South Side. East Carson Street will become one-way in between S. 10th and S. 18th starting at 9:30 p.m. Those changes are part of Public Safety’s efforts to stem violence and control the “dangerous and untenable” South Side crowds that followed the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

(Photo Credit: Meghan Schiller/KDKA)

(Photo Credit: Meghan Schiller/KDKA)

Officials say the upper floor of the building partially collapsed in the 1600 block of East Carson Street around 8 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses said the collapse sounded like a bomb going off.

Surveillance video caught the moment the top half of the building came crashing down, bricks just barely missing a passerby.

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A viewer just sent me this surveillance video showing the moment the upper level of this South Side building came crashing onto the pavement. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/Uz5YZ2Ggsi

— 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐊𝐃𝐊𝐀 (@roycejonesnews) August 13, 2021

The building is home to the Swirl Penguin ice cream shop, which had just opened a few months ago. The Rex Theater next door was also damaged.

Investigators with Public Safety say it was likely a lightning strike that caused the partial collapse. They’re still on scene Friday afternoon, assessing the damage and trying to determine the official cause of the accident.

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Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story, including an interview with the person almost hit as the building collapsed.