GALVESTON, Texas --
One person was injured when he became trapped after a partial collapse of the Flagship Hotel in Galveston.
City officials said the hotel, which is undergoing demolition because it was destroyed in Hurricane Ike, partially collapsed at 3:40 p.m.
One worker was trapped, but was freed a short time later.
"He was freed by our firefighters and police officers. They ended up using the jaws of life to get him out of the collapse and the debris," said Alicia Cahill with the city of Galveston.
"He was pinned underneath the debris on the first floor. The area that was on top of him was approximately 1,000 pounds," Galveston Fire Chief Jeff Smith said. "We used hydraulic rescue tools, cutters, heavy rescue equipment to get him out."
The victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. His condition was described as critical.
"His injuries are very life-threatening," Smith said.
No other injures were reported.
"The hotel structure was in the process of being demolished and the partial collapse happened to the second floor on the north-end of the structure," Cahill said. "They have temporarily closed the site."
An investigation is under way to determine the cause and when the demolition can resume.
The hotel has been vacant since it was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Landry's Restaurants plans to build an amusement park on the property. The new amusement park would include a large Ferris wheel, a carousel court, and a ride that shoots people over the Gulf, among other attractions.
The Flagship Hotel was built in 1965 on a pier built in 1943 for military families. Ironically, it replaced an amusement park damaged in 1962 by Hurricane Carla.
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