Two women were injured when scaffolding collapsed, leaving one of them trapped, in a Leicester street this morning (28th January 2015).
Scaffolding erected on a shop front of a substantial size collapsed into the road hitting a passing bus and van as it fell into a Leicester street shortly after 11:30am this morning.
Two women were injured, leaving one woman trapped under the collapsed structure thought to be in her 60s. After paramedics arrived she was helped out of the wreckage on foot. Another person was brought out of a nearby shop on a stretcher and put in the back of an ambulance local media reported.
Both women were both taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary for minor injures.
Eye witness, Dan Brown told local media:
“I was in the office and heard a massive gust of wind. I stood up, looked out of the window and the scaffolding was coming down.
“I ran across the road and a lady was underneath. She was on the floor on her knees.
“We pulled seven planks of wood out, enabling someone to get in to make sure she was okay.”
The Health and Safety Executive has been made aware of the incident and is carrying out an investigation.
The work was being carried out by Emperor Scaffolding, of Ravensbridge Drive, off Blackbird Road, Leicester.
Martin Morley, Managing Director of Emperor Scaffolding, said:
“The HSE are carrying out an investigation and I’ve been advised not to comment while their investigation is under way.”
Scaffolders from the company were waiting to go in and dismantle the collapsed structure.