DEARBORN, Mich. – The city of Dearborn is taking swift action after a parking garage collapsed last week, trapping a man inside.
The incident occurred on Friday (Feb. 6) night near Michigan Avenue and West Outer Drive.
The man slid under the steering wheel, preventing him from being crushed.
He was rescued after two hours.
Following the collapse, the city fenced off the property to prevent access to the unstable parking structure.
The property owner was ordered to immediately stabilize the deck to prevent further damage.
If stabilization is successful and the structure is deemed safe, the owner is responsible for coordinating the safe removal of vehicles.
The city has begun legal steps under state law, including seeking demolition of the garage due to dangerous conditions.
The garage owners previously received a stop-work order and a ticket last July for conducting work without permits.
Plans submitted in late October were denied because the owner failed to provide the necessary details on the work’s scope and a structural analysis.
There is no record of any city inspections at the property prior to the stop-work order.
The building was damaged by fire in 2021 and has remained vacant since, eliminating the need for interval inspections.