Building collapses on Rice campus in Houston - one person dead

OSHA investigators are on the Rice University campus to investigate the dorm collapse that killed one worker and injured seven others Thursday.

It happened at a new dormitory that was under construction.

"When the storm came through, it blew over four walls," said Rice University spokesperson B.J. Almond.

The walls and scaffolding crumbled onto workers.

One construction worker died and seven others were injured when the walls of a building under construction at Rice University collapsed during high winds this afternoon.

Authorities were called to the scene at Sunset and Rice about 4 p.m. and found the workers trapped in the western, second floor, corner of the future McMurtry residential college.

``Four masonry walls collapsed,'' said Asst. Chief Rick Flanagan, Houston Fire Department. ``The integrity of the walls gave way.''

Four of those injured were taken to area hospitals in unknown condition and three were treated at the scene, said Flanagan.

``At this point we've got crews working to shore up the area so that we may conduct an investigation,'' Flanagan said. 

Rice spokesman B.J. Almond said the residential college is scheduled to open in fall 2009.

One person is dead and at least three others injured in a wall collapse on the campus of Rice University.

The collapse happened around 4pm near Sunset and Rice. A wall of a structure under constuction collapsed, trapping at least four people. One of those in the accident has died. Crews have been working to get the others out out and transport them to nearby hospitals.

At this point, we don't know the condition of any of the trapped victims.

It happened in the 1500 block of Sunset where a construction project is under way. A wall reportedly collapsed in the construction area.

There are at least four people trapped inside, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Firefighters are working to rescue them and ambulances are standing by.

One witness said it sounded like an explosion.