Remains of worker trapped inside New Orleans casino removed after 10 months

Remains of worker trapped inside New Orleans casino removed after 10 months The bodies of Jose Ponce Arreola, 63, and Quinnyon Wimberly, 36, have been trapped in the rubble since the building collapsed Oct. 12, 2019. On Saturday, Wimberly's body was removed. (Mayor LaToya Cantrell/Mayor LaToya Cantrell)

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NEW ORLEANS — The body of one of the construction workers killed when the Hard Rock hotel collapsed last year was removed Saturday.

The bodies of Jose Ponce Arreola, 63, and Quinnyon Wimberly, 36, have been trapped in the rubble since the building collapsed Oct. 12, 2019.

Friday crews started cutting and sawing through the debris, WDSU reported. On Saturday, Wimberly's body was removed.

“This has been a long journey,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. “But the longest journey has been for the families mostly impacted by this collapse. (It was a) long time coming to get Quinnyon Wimberly out of the building. It was an intolerable wait.”

Crews have not yet reached the area where Arreola’s body is, which will be more difficult and complex to get to, the Times-Picayune reported. A timeline for reaching his remains has not been released.

Cox Media Group

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