Fines slapped over bridge collapse

By Charles Edwards

Atlanta, GA – Today, the federal government fined three companies for the deadly collapse of a walkway under construction inside Atlanta Botanical Garden.

The accident, last December, killed one worker and injured 18 others

Hardin Construction Company and two of its subcontractors are building the Garden's new walkway. It will be 40 feet tall and 600 feet long. Last December, construction workers were getting ready to pour concrete when part of the walkway collapsed.

The fall occurred partly because the companies did not ensure the walkway was strong enough. That's according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Michael Wald is OSHA's spokesperson.

WALD: "Some of the towers were not adequately braced and we found that anchors in the towers were not sufficiently embedded."

OSHA slapped Hardin and its subcontractors with more than 26 thousand dollars in fines.

Hardin plans to appeal. The walkway is still under construction.