Dramatic Video Shows Roof Of Chevron Gas Station Collapsing In Torrance

TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say one person was injured Monday when the roof of a gas station in Torrance collapsed in an incident that was caught on video.

The roof collapse at the Chevron gas station on the 17400 block of Prairie Avenue just south of Artesia Boulevard was reported just before 4:20 p.m.

Firefighters say there were two people doing maintenance work on the top of the awning when they noticed structural defects.

At that point, the roof began to fail and one worker road it down to the ground.

"I just thought, 'these guys are up there.' I didn't know if one of them had been crushed under the roof or fell with the roof," said Gizelle Bazquez, a witness, who works at the car wash near the gas station.

Remarkably, one person walked away with just some scratches. The other worker was on the side of the roof that didn't collapse.

It's also unclear whether the workers were employees of the gas station or were contracted out.

A sedan at the gas station was damaged by the roof collapse.

Crews were expected to remain on scene through the night to try and get the gas station back open. It should be operational at latest by Wednesday morning.