By Javonte Anderson
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — A Chicago firefighter was taken to the hospital after the top floor of a two-story parking garage collapsed underneath a fire engine Tuesday morning, officials said.
The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. when Fire Department crews responded to a call near 71st Street and Exchange Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood, said Larry Langford, spokesman for the department.
The engine, Engine No. 126, however, was “relatively unscathed,” Langford said. As the surface underneath the fire engine collapsed, the engine’s protruding front bumper prevented the vehicle from falling to the ground level of the garage.
Under view of Engine 126 Cfd is thankful the collapse did not occur as SUV’s were passing in and out. The situation could have been much worse if this had been large passenger vehicles. They most likely would have fallen to the ground. pic.twitter.com/XawOPuWVeK
— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) August 6, 2019
The firefighter driving the engine was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital with back pain, officials said. His condition was stabilized. As of early Tuesday afternoon, the fire engine was still stuck in the parking garage. The Fire Department had two cranes coming to lift the engine, Langford said.
No other injuries were reported, and no other vehicles were damaged.
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