Crane operator had drugs in his system after Philadelphia building collapse: Sources

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NBC Philadelphia – Sources tell NBC10 two drugs were found in the system of the man operating a crane at the site of Wednesday’s deadly building collapse in downtown Philadelphia.

Sean Benschop, 42, had marijuana and prescription painkillers in his blood hours after the outer wall of 2136 Market Street tumbled down onto the Salvation Army Thrift ShopWednesday morning, sources said.

The Center City collapse buried nearly two dozen people under brick, cement and wood. Six people were killed and 13 hurt in the collapse. One woman was buried for 13 hours under rubble before being rescued.

Sources say Benschop was taken to a nearby hospital after the collapse to take a blood and urine test. Those tests were expedited for quick results.

Benschop is a convicted felon and lists himself as self-employed, sources say.

An investigation into the cause of the collapse is ongoing and criminal charges have not been filed. However, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s Homicide Unit was at the collapse scene Thursday.

The DA Office’s spokeswoman Tasha Jamerson said it was too early to comment further on any potential criminal charges.

Benschop was operating the crane for demolition contractor Griffin Campbell Construction. City officials stopped work at two other Griffin Campbell sites in the city’s Midtown Village section on Thursday.

Construction workers and everyday citizens called Griffin Campbell’s demolition practices at the site into question prior to and following the collapse.

Stephen Field told the City of Philadelphia’s Philly311 customer service center about a lack of safety gear being used by workers as they hacked away at the brick building. He also voiced his concern that pedestrians could be hit by falling debris or that a complete collapse could happen.

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