Sean Benschop, the equipment operator accused in a Philadelphia building collapse last week, at the time of the incident. Benschop has a lengthy arrest history and surrendered to authorities Saturday (June 8) on several county.
The 42-year-old was under the influence of weed when he drove a backhoe tractor at the demolition site. Lawyer Diane Gray doesn’t believe Benschop is to blame. “This was an accident, but Mr. Benschop is not responsible,” Gray said. “We believe that, in time, the facts will show the he is not responsible.
Gray added that Benschop was “completely able” to operate the machine. “He operated it safely, as he always does he did not violate the law in any capacity.”
Half a dozen people, –two store employees and four customers– were killed when the building fell onto a thrift store next door. An additional 13 sustained injuries.
For his part Benschop faces a single count of risking a catastrophe, six counts of involuntary manslaughter, and 13 counts of recklessly endangering another person. His rap sheet features 11 arrests since 1994 for drug, weapon, and theft related offenses.
—
Photo: KTLA
