Man Killed in Car Dealership Collapse was Suffocated by Rubble: Officials

TRAVIS — The construction worker who was killed after the Staten Island car dealership he was in collapsed died from asphyxiation, the medical examiner ruled on Tuesday.

Delfino Jesus Velazquez Mendizabal, 43, was trapped under the debris after the mezzanine collapsed inside the Dana Ford Lincoln building, 266 West Service Rd., he was working to demolish on Friday, police said.

The rubble compressed his torso and caused him to asphyxiate, the medical examiner said.

Three other workers were also inside the building but managed to get out and were not injured.

The dealership was being demolished illegally without permits from, according to Department of Buildings records.

Over the weekend, the DOB issued a stop work order on the project because of the lack of permits, records show. A full vacate order was also issued by the property.