Two people died when scaffolding collapsed near Disney World early morning on Aug. 29, officials said.
Two construction workers were killed and a third was injured; all three were on the sixth floor of the building when the scaffold gave way, reported WESH-TV.
The survivor hung on to the scaffold and was able to climb to safety.
“They were on the scaffolding, and for reasons unknown at this time, that support structure gave way, sending two workers plummeting to the ground below. Both died on the scene. A third worker managed to hang onto the scaffolding and managed to climb to safety,” Orange County Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office and federal investigators with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are planning an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Fatal construction accident: 14900 blk Chelonia Pkwy./Hotel under construction/several workers on scaffold/support structure, working between 6 & 7th floors when, for reasons unknown, scaffold gave way. 2 workers fell to the ground and died on scene (more) #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/g0OLvH3dfW
— OCFire Rescue (@OCFireRescue) August 29, 2018
Fatal construction accident (more): A third worker hung on and managed to climb to safety when scaffold/support gave way, suffering minor inj's but refused transport. @OrangeCoSheriff @OSHA_DOL will investigate. #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/hByfR6Fnzl
— OCFire Rescue (@OCFireRescue) August 29, 2018
LIVE: SkyFOX is over the deadly scaffolding collapse near Disney World in Orlando, Florida. WATCH: https://t.co/AXuGXYfIZk pic.twitter.com/BVneMEb3mb
— FOX 13 Tampa Bay (@FOX13News) August 29, 2018
#Breaking Fire-Rescue: Two workers building hotel near Disney World die in plunge from 6th floor scaffolding collapse. @FOX19 pic.twitter.com/XA1YfTKDdp
— Charisse Gibson (@OkayCharisse) August 29, 2018
WATCH: A scaffolding collapse near Disney World in Orlando, Florida, killed two people https://t.co/xQxqIKknoz pic.twitter.com/CH41FX4DIM
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 29, 2018
The Orange County Fire Rescue said the location of the rescue was 14900 Chelonia Parkway, which isn’t on Disney property but is near Disney World in Orlando. “Several workers on scaffold/support structure, working between 6 & 7th floors when, for reasons unknown, scaffold gave way,” the agency stated.
Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Ingrid Tejada-Monforte told the Orlando Sentinel that the workers were pouring concrete when the scaffold collapsed.
The victims haven’t been identified but she said they were both in their early 30s. About 18 workers were at the scene when the accident was called in at 4:15 a.m.
The scaffolding was at a hotel that is under construction.
Marriott International has described the project as a 16-story, $282 million JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort, featuring 516 rooms near Orlando’s popular theme parks.
It’s owned and developed by DCS Investment Holdings, a private equity group based in West Palm Beach, Florida, which is owned by Dwight C. Schar, co-owner of the Washington Redskins.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
