LAKE CITY, Fla. (WCJB) – A rodeo arena under construction at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds collapsed Wednesday afternoon, leaving some workers with scrapes and bruises but no serious injuries, according to Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy.
The first 9-1-1 call came in at 4:06 p.m. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said all workers were accounted for following the collapse.
Murphy said workers were using three cranes and installing beams at the new rodeo arena when the structure came down. He said he heard a worker say the collapse happened after a gust of heavy wind. Strong storms were moving into Columbia County at the time, though an official cause has not been determined.
Authorities say a construction project at the Florida Gateway Rodeo collapsed on Wednesday afternoon.(CCSO)
An insurance representative visited the site following the collapse. A spokesperson for the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds said the cause will be investigated.
A spokesperson for Plumb Level Construction, a contractor on the project, issued a statement following the collapse.
“Sometimes things happen that are outside our control,” the statement said. “All we can do is replace. We can replace a building, but we can’t replace someone’s Husband, Father, Brother or Son.”
Dakota Harper, who works nearby, stopped to view the damage.
“Initial reaction? I was a little shocked because I’ve seen them building it probably for about a few weeks — maybe two or three weeks now,” Harper said. “It’s kind of crazy seeing it collapse like that.”
Murphy said the construction site was not scheduled to be used during the Florida Gateway Fair and Livestock Show, which is set to begin in late October. A pro rodeo is slated for March at the venue.
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