Jack Krumm, Simmy Wood and Jared Thomas reported on a grain bin collapse in Arcola, Illinois, for WCIA. The timeline of events leading to the collapse reveals that all employees had left the site by 4:30 p.m. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a booming noise around 6:30 p.m., followed by the sight of a large dust cloud. The Division Manager of Growmark, Inc., the company owning the bins, received notification of the incident at about 6:45 p.m. First responders and city officials were dispatched to the site shortly thereafter.
Reyli Vega, an eyewitness, described the noise as akin to a car accident, with the second boom being louder and followed by the sight of the grain bins sliding down. She and others in the vicinity were startled by the unexpected collapse.
The cleanup operation, set to begin tomorrow, will involve heavy equipment like tractors and cranes to manage the significant quantity of spilled grain. Arcola Mayor Jesus Garza, along with emergency crews, have assessed the situation, ensuring the safety of a family affected by the spill in a nearby house.
Growmark, Inc.'s Division Manager stated that the company is actively investigating the cause of the failure in collaboration with local authorities. The company is fully cooperating with all necessary agencies to understand what happened and to ensure appropriate measures are taken.
