San Antonio collapse injures three

SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- The facade of a five-story building under renovation in downtown San Antonio collapsed Wednesday, injuring at least three people, police said.

Three people were taken to hospitals and a search was under way for other possible victims in the rubble, police spokesman Gabe Trevino said. The victims were believed to be workers and possibly a pedestrian who was injured on the sidewalk.

The historic, 100-year-old furniture store was under renovation with plans to convert it into a luxury hotel that would overlook the famous downtown River Walk. Work had been under way for more than a year at the site.

The collapse reported to police about 8:46 a.m. at the Commerce Street location only a few blocks from the Alamo. Firefighters immediately began searching for victims and cutting off gas and electricity to buildings in the area.

Sections of the facade covered the sidewalk. The steel girders were still standing but they twisted by the collapse. Floors of the building fell in a heap at the bottom.

"When the facade collapsed, it came right down and pushed the sidewalk out of the way," San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Tommy Thompson said. "We don't know what happened. It could have been a lot worse."

A passing transit bus was struck by debris but there were no injuries aboard the vehicle.