No Investigation Planned for Water Tower Collapse

Officials say they don’t know what caused a water tower to fall from a building three weeks ago, nor do they plan to launch a full-fledged investigation, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Three people were injured July 31 when the tank fell from a historic 9-story building at 2800 N. Pine Grove Ave. at the corner of Diversey Parkway. The tank received at least two building code violations in 2010 leading to the inspection’s failure, according to the City of Chicago Department of Buildings. 

The failure raised some eyebrows, but now officials say the tower fell because of a structural issue. And what exactly that issue was might be revealed soon.

Chicago Building Departments spokesman Bill McCaffrey says the building owners will need to submit architectural plans that will give insight as to why the tower fell, according to the Tribune. He added officials will not do immediate inspections on the more than 150 other water towers around Chicago.

On Aug. 2, two of the three injured in the accident filed a lawsuit against the condominium association of the building, commonly known as The Brewster.

Lauren Hussar, 27, and Jack Baginski, 29, were standing behind The Brewster building at 2800 N. Pine Grove Ave. when the wooden water tank crashed to the ground. Baginski was helping Hussar, his girlfriend, move out of an adjacent building.

Hussar was seriously injured when she was taken up a staircase by a wall of water. She was then hit by debris, leading her to slide back down the stairs, head first, according to Chicago Fire Chief Michael Fox. Baginski was also injured by flying debris and the wave of water that threw him under a car.

Both were sent to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for treatment.

A third woman, Bertha O’campo, was opening the door to a daycare center on Pine Grove to take out the trash when a tidal wave of water swept her away. She is not part of the lawsuit.