Phialdelphia police have issued a warrant for the arrest of the man who operated a backhoe at the scene of Wednseday's fatal building collapse. Police are now searching for 43-year-old Sean Benschop after marijuana and prescription painkillers were found in his system just two hours after a building under demolition fell on top of the Salvation Army thrift store, killing six people.
Benschop has been charged with six counts of involuntary manslaughter and 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person, risking a catastrophe and causing a catastrophe. Authorities raided Benschop's home in Philadelphia's Olney section yesterday afternoon, but he was not present.
Benschop was reportedly taken to a hospital in the area where blood and urine tests were administered and results returned quickly. Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, said that it was too early to offer additional insight on the criminal charges.
[via NBC Philadelphia]
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