Hornell, N.Y.--One moment four Hornell Boy Scouts were horsing around in a car, the next, they're trying to clear a pathway so three men trapped under a building can breathe.
Three men were injured when the former Parkway Apartments on Begole Road collapsed during a planned demolition Saturday afternoon in Mt. Morris.
The property's owner was tearing down a vacant section of the building when it landed on the men.
"I was scared because a man’s leg was up near his shoulder," said Lee Cornish, a Hornell scout.
Sgt. Michael Dougherty of the Livingston County Sheriff's Department said it was an error in the demolition that resulted in the injuries.
Cornish, along with fellow scouts Noah McHenry, Sam Argentieri, Aiden Libordi and Lee's father stopped their car and crafted a plan.
"We tried to lift it up enough so the men could breathe and have an oxygen flow," said Cornish.
It took about ten minutes, but the group of five was able to clear some debris and lessen the load on those trapped.
"You just felt you had to get those guys from under that building," said Argentieri.
Once emergency responders arrived, the boys backed away, having done their duty.
"I think that was our good deed for the day," said Cornish.
As for the trapped men, Myron Gibson was discharged from Strong Memorial Hospital. Richard Powers is in satisfactory condition. The status of Terry Young was unavailable.
