25°Probe found collapse was inevitable
Jul 02
2010
MIDDLE BASS ISLAND
Blocked vents. Containers of salt in the cellar. Half a century of rain and humidity.
Molecule by molecule, over the course of 50 years, steel succumbed to rust under the concrete terrace at Lonz Winery.
Water seeped through steel sheeting, corroding the terrace’s beams and joists.
The structure could have collapsed at any time, engineer Phil Whaley said.
It just happened to collapse on a holiday afternoon, when nearly 100 weekend visitors milled about on the terrace. Nearly 100 people dropped into the cellar. One died and 77 suffered injuries.
Read the full story in Saturday's Register, and read more about the Lonz Winery tragedy in this four-day series:
Thursday
- The victims remember and state officials ponder the property's future
Friday
- Emergency response and lessons learned
Saturday
- What went wrong? Who had to pay?
Sunday
- Tragedy echoes in island's life and business
Click on the PDF below to view Ottawa County EMA's report on the Lonz terrace collapse.
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07:20 PM
gene44870 says
Yea , well the only thing that I have to say is that the state should have been there to inspect the building as well as the owner should have
I mean I am sure that they knew what the building was made from and what time could do to buildings all around north america
I would like to know if and when the building inspector was there and what the report said as far as what the inspector inspected ., Like I said , there is enough blame to fall on a lot of shoulders , from the owner to the state and local goverment .
09:16 AM
6079 Smith W says
Who was their insurance co.? They did a lousy job of risk assessment.