An 85-foot drilling rig collapsed onto Brickell Bay Drive in Miami Monday morning, crushing three vehicles, setting one SUV on fire and trapping two construction workers who had to be cut free with hydraulic rescue tools. Four people were hospitalized and reported in stable condition. The collapse happened just after 8 a.m. on September 14 at the construction site of Citadel’s new global headquarters, the hedge fund led by billionaire Ken Griffin, at the corner of Brickell Bay Drive and Southeast 12th Street.
How the rescue unfolded
Miami Fire Rescue sent roughly 50 firefighters, including its Technical Rescue Team, to free two workers pinned in crushed metal. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Robert Hevia credited survival to sheer luck, telling reporters at the scene: “Count your blessings, God was watching over you today.”
The driver who backed away in time
One driver escaped serious injury by reversing her SUV as the rig came down in front of her; her vehicle still caught fire moments later. Bystander video of the collapse and the fire circulated widely online within hours of the accident.
What caused the collapse
The cause has not yet been determined. Miami-Dade’s Unsafe Structures unit and OSHA were called in to investigate alongside fire officials, and Brickell Bay Drive remained closed for hours while crews worked the scene. Related Companies, the developer building Citadel’s headquarters, said in a statement that the “health and safety of our workers and the community” was its top priority.
Second Brickell accident in weeks
The collapse is the second construction accident to hit Miami’s Brickell neighborhood in a matter of weeks, after a tower crane fell into a building’s pool last month without injuring anyone. Both incidents have renewed scrutiny of the neighborhood’s construction boom, where several high-rise projects are underway at once, including the roughly $1 billion Citadel campus that is due to anchor the company’s relocation from New York. Follow Smashology Media’s News coverage as the OSHA investigation into the Brickell collapse continues.
Sources
- CBS News Miami: 4 injured after 85-foot drilling rig collapses in Brickell
- Fox News: Construction rig collapses on 3 cars in Miami, traps workers as fire erupts
Leon Ramoviq
Primary Author · Editorial Reviewer · Researcher Leon Ramoviq is a digital media researcher, content creator, and primary author at Smashology Media. His work focuses on researching, verifying, and developing stories across entertainment, culture, sports, internet trends, curiosity-driven topics, and viral news. Before publishing, Leon reviews sources, cross-checks key claims, and works to ensure that articles are clear, accurately represented, and based on reliable information rather than unverified social-media speculation. With experience in digital media, graphic design, social media content, and online audience engagement, he brings both an editorial and visual perspective to the stories published on Smashology. Leon is particularly interested in how stories spread online, why certain topics capture public attention, and how complex or trending information can be presented in a simple and engaging format. Role at Smashology As a primary author and researcher, Leon is involved in: • Researching stories and identifying original or reliable sources • Writing and developing articles for Smashology • Reviewing facts, names, dates, quotations, and contextual information • Checking stories for misleading or unsupported claims • Reviewing articles before publication • Following developments and updating stories when meaningful new information becomes available • Maintaining editorial consistency across Smashology content Editorial Approach Leon believes engaging content should not come at the expense of accuracy. His approach is to combine strong storytelling with responsible sourcing, clear attribution, and additional verification when a story originates from social media or rapidly developing online discussions.
