An in-depth 113-page report on the tragic Davenport apartment building collapse at 324 Main St. was released to the public on Thursday. Spanning several months, this extensive probe uncovers the myriad factors that led to the calamity last May.
Davenport Apartment Building Collapse : Expert Firms Lead The Investigation
Tasked with unraveling the cause and origins of this disastrous event, SOCTEC Engineering partnered with the White Birch Group LLC. The latter notably responded to the 2021 Surfside condominiums tragedy in Florida, underscoring the gravity of the apartment building collapse.
Davenport’s Mayor Mike Matson expressed the city’s dedication to transparency in a recent media release, “From the day of the tragic collapse at 324 Main St., our commitment has been unwavering in pinpointing the causes. Not only did we collaborate with the consultants from the Surfside event, but we vowed to share their conclusions with the public. Today, we fulfill that promise, with our thoughts steadfastly with the families of Ryan Hitchcock, Branden Colvin Sr., and Daniel Prien.”
The Foremost Culprit: Inadequate Structural Support
The main trigger, according to the report, was the improper support provided to a wall being constructed, directly precipitating the collapse of the six-story edifice. The devastating incident during the Memorial Day weekend resulted in the loss of three lives – Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock, and Daniel Prien. It also obliterated numerous apartment units.
