BREAKING NEWS: Vacant building collapse investigated

Newton Police and emergency workers are studying the ruins of a building at 2-8 East Clinton Street that partially collapsed at 9:36 a.m. Tuesday, May 1. The vacant structure is the largest in row of businesses in a small complex and is the site of the former Lakeview Lumber. The two other businesses in the row, J&G Pet Foods and TA Mountford Copier Machine Sales and Supplies were open at the time and were immediately evacuated, as were nearby state offices of the public defender, Society Security and Division of Youth and Family Services. East Clinton Street was closed between Route 206 and Moran Street, police said. The back half of the building collapsed and emergency personnel were immediately on the scene searching the rubble to determine if anyone was in the structure. The fire department dropped a remote camera from its ladder truck. Police Chief John Tomasula said there were blankets and beer cans in the area, indicating some homeless people might have been using the building for shelter. There was no other indication anyone was inside, police said. Ed McManus, an employee of the business machine store said he heard what he thought was thunder until the UPS deliveryman told him what happened. Steve DePasquale of Totowa, the building’s owner was on the scene Tuesday afternoon working with local code enforcement officials to determine what needed to be done to make the adjacent buildings safe. DePasquale recently purchased the strip of buildings and just received planning board approval to renovate them into seven stores and a restaurant. He speculated water damage was the root cause of the collapse. The building, originally an A&P, had been vacant for about 20 years, according to Eileen Kithcart, town manager. Click here for more photos.