Rescuers respond to Marion shed roof collapse

UPDATE: Rescuers pulled a man out from underneath a shed that collapsed on top of him Thursday afternoon in Marion.

The shed collapsed just after 1 p.m. behind United Insurance Agencies, 80 West Eighth Ave. Authorities said the man suffered broken bones and lacerations, primarily to his legs and head, but his injuries did not appear life threatening.

Marion District Fire Chied Doug Wyman said two men were doing construction on the shed, which does not have sides. One of the men got out of the way when it began to collapse, but the other did not, he said.

“He tried to hold it up, and it was just too much for him,” Wyman said. “That's when it came down.”

Firefighters spoke with the man, who spoke broken English, the entire time he was pinned. A police officer who speaks Spanish arrived at the scene to assist.

The rescue crew secured the building and inflated air bags to lift the roof enough to pull the man out.

“He was in discomfort,” police Lt. Doug Slagle said. “Great pain.”

An ambulance rushed the man to a local hospital. His construction partner was not transported, but was encouraged to see a doctor, police said.

An investigation was continuing to determine what caused the shed to collapse.