3 Die, Dozens Hurt When Pier Collapses

A pier holding a new open-air bar collapsed Thursday night and plunged into the Delaware River, killing at least three people and injuring more than three dozen, a city official said.

“It went down so quick people were just running,” said Julie Morgan of Haddonfield, N.J., who was pulled out of the water and was sitting with police blankets draped over her on the back of a police car.

Three people died, and 37 people--including eight rescue workers who were hurt while trying to pull victims from the debris-strewn water--were taken to hospitals, said Stephanie Franklin-Suber, the mayor’s chief of staff. Identities were not immediately released.

Divers continued to search the water and pier wreckage through the night, though Police Commissioner John Timoney said there was no reason to believe more people were in the water.

The pier dropped into the water about 8:25 p.m. A canvas tent over the pier also collapsed, covering many people who fell into the water.

The pier held the new bar, Heat, which is attached to a ballroom dancing area at the Moshulu restaurant, a boat docked on the river. Heat opened earlier this month.

The pier is about one-quarter the size of a football field, behind the restaurant. The section that collapsed was along the back wall of the ballroom facing the deck, Franklin-Suber said.

“I heard a loud crash, and then all hell broke loose. I went straight down . . . then I was just trying to fight my way up,” said bartender Joseph Capaci, 28, of Villanova.

Fire and police officials and the Department of Licenses and Inspections are investigating.