By Bridget Murphy
The Times-Union
Copyright 2007 The Times-Union

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Firefighters worked through the night searching the rubble for the construction worker who was still missing after Thursday's garage collapse in downtown Jacksonville.

Family members of 26-year-old Willie "L.B." Edwards III also kept a vigil a block away, hearing from authorities every few hours that nothing had changed.

Jacksonville fire department Operations Chief Brady Rigdon said rescuers have dug a whole about 15 feet down in the rubble in an area where they believe the victim is trapped. He said there are heavy slabs that need to be moved next.

He called the operation a rescue one, although he said sophisticated communications equipment put in place about 8 a.m. so far hadn't produced any contact with the victim.

Firefighters are putting microphones down in the holes of the heap to try to detect any sound. About 100 firefighters remain at the scene. They have searched about half the structure, including the parts still standing, Rigdon said.

Lorenzo Edwards, the victim's 20-year-old cousin, said even strangers have shown support. People the family didn't know showed up last night with fried chicken for his family. The American Red Cross also has been assisting since Thursday and counseling them.

Family members have told the victim's children that he is missing. Edwards' 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter are at the scene.

"They cried all last night. They wanted their daddy. So we brought them out here this morning," their grandfather, Willie Edwards Jr., said.

Standing on the jail steps with high-powered binoculars, the 20-year-old watched firefighters from the closest point police lines would allow him.

"We've got to wait and hope something good comes up out of there," Lorenzo Edwards said.

Much of the six-story Berkman Plaza 2 parking garage collapsed Thursday shortly before 6 a.m. on Bay Street across from the Sheriff's Office. A couple dozen workers were taken to hospitals with injuries and Willie Edwards is the only one unaccounted for.

Many of his family members stayed all night outside the rescue efforts and have a tent set up. Sheriff John Rutherford met with the family as well.

The cause of the building collapse is still unknown, but workers were pouring concrete on the sixth floor when it happened.

Bay Street between North Liberty Street and A. Philip Randolph is still closed and will remain closed Friday night during the Keith Urban concert at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Bay Street might not be reopened in time for Sunday's Jacksonville Jaguar game against the Carolina Panthers.

Drivers should plan ahead for alternate routes and extra travel time downtown. Parking should not be affected for either event.