Bodies of 2 workers recovered from Grays Ferry parking garage collapse

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The bodies of two workers have been recovered from the scene of last week's partial parking garage collapse in the Grays Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia. Mayor Cherelle Parker announced the recovery of the victims, identified as Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr. by the Ironworkers Local 401 union. The mayor also said she has ordered an independent investigation into the cause of the collapse, with a final report due in 180 days.

Why it matters

The deadly parking garage collapse has shaken the Grays Ferry community and raised concerns about construction site safety in Philadelphia. The independent investigation ordered by the mayor aims to determine the root causes of the incident and identify any potential systemic issues that may need to be addressed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The details

Crews worked painstakingly over the weekend to carefully remove layers of concrete from the partially collapsed parking garage in order to recover the bodies of the two victims. Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said they had a good idea of where the bodies were located, but needed to ensure the area was safe before sending crews in. This required a controlled demolition and use of a wrecking ball to knock down the unstable structure. The city said there have been no red flags regarding air quality in the area, but the collapse site needs to be preserved for the OSHA and city investigations.

• The parking garage partially collapsed last week.
• The bodies of the two workers were recovered on Monday, April 13, 2026.
• Mayor Parker signed an executive order on Monday directing a full independent investigation, with a final report due in 180 days.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The independent investigation ordered by Mayor Parker is expected to take 180 days to complete, with a final report detailing the findings and any recommended actions to be taken.