By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – An engineer whose job with the government is to respond to such things has critical new information about the deadly Amazon warehouse collapse last year.
Attorney Jack Casciato of Clifford Law Firm in Chicago says the evidence is damning. “Within the last few weeks,” he told an online news conference, “we have obtained via a Freedom of Information request a natural structural engineer’s report that the columns in the area where the building collapsed were unanchored, which is a grave violation of the International Building Code.”
And he had something for those who appreciate irony:
“This could have easily been alleviated by having the right storm shelters in place, which Amazon sells,” said Casciato, who represents the parents of one of the victims. He added that Amazon could have checked a weather report and evacuated the building.
The tornado four months ago brought down the warehouse in Edwardsville, killing six.
A statement from Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel:
“Our focus continues to be on supporting our team and all those affected by this tragic natural disaster. Investigators continue to conduct a comprehensive forensic examination of the building and debris — so it’s premature and misleading to suggest there were any structural issues. The original developer completed construction on this building in 2018 in compliance with all applicable building codes as documented by the city and the original owner. The building was re-inspected and passed City inspections in 2020 when Amazon leased the building.”
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
