News 14 Carolina's David Kernodle has more from SouthPark where a parking deck collapsed and killed a woman.
News 14 Carolina's Shawn Flynn has more on structural issues regarding the deck.
CHARLOTTE -- A portion of parking deck at a busy shopping mall collapsed Thursday, and a motorist who may have triggered the accident by crashing into the structure died, police said.
The woman's car crashed into the edge of the top level of the parking deck at SouthPark Mall, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police spokeswoman Julie Hill said.
A small portion of the three-tier deck then collapsed, and the driver's car fell through the opening, Hill said.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Mecklenburg EMS Agency spokesman Eric Morrison said. A police report identified her as Shirley Sutton Hawkins, 64; it did not say how she died.
The collapse was limited to a small section of the parking deck. (Courtesy of WCNC)
Two cars under the collapsed concrete were destroyed, Charlotte Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said, but authorities said there were no other injuries.
"I think it's miraculous, quite honest," Hill said.
Officials are investigating the cause.
Hawkins' car was seen wedged on a concrete median before it broke free and sped to the edge of the parking deck, according to the police report.
Lorraine Ayala, 63, of Monroe, said she left the mall to find the parking deck collapsed just above her ground-level parking space.
"It makes you question the structure of these buildings," Ayala said.
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More pictures from the scene:
This morning, a portion of the third level of our parking deck collapsed. Immediately after learning of the collapse, our security personnel, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and fire departments, and Medic (a Mecklenburg EMS agency) were on the scene to evaluate.
One woman who was injured in the collapse was taken to the hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, the medical staff was unable to save her. We were saddened to learn the news of her passing, and our thoughts remain with her family.
We remain in close contact with authorities to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken to provide for the safety and well being of our fellow community members.
-- Mall spokesperson Molly Parrish