A partial collapse at a casino construction site Friday injured dozens of workers, and police are investigating the cause.

As many as 16-20 people were injured, nine with serious injuries. All workers, who range in age from 30 to mid-40s, were conscious and are being evaluated, but none have life-threatening injuries.

Cincinnati Police Lt. Maurice Robinson said the cause of the collapse, which involves a large section of the building, is unknown.

“A single bay of the facility collapsed as concrete was being poured. All workers were accounted for,” Steve Rosenthal of casino co-developer Rock Gaming LLC said in a statement. The casino is being developed in partnership with Caesar’s Entertainment.

Police closed roads around the casino.

City spokeswoman Meg Olberding said workers have been sent home and the site will be closed Friday.

In October 2010, casino developer Rock Gaming named four Ohio construction companies to oversee construction of the $400 millions downtown casino at Broadway Commons.

The local companies are: Messer Construction Co. of Bond Hill, D.A.G. Construction Co. Inc. of Walnut Hills, Jostin Construction of Walnut Hills and TriVersity Construction Group of Lockland

The last three companies, which are minority-owned, will form a joint venture for the project called Pendleton Construction Group LLC to pool resources to increase inclusion and workforce diversity.

On Dec. 16 there was a collapse of a parking garage connected with the downtown Cleveland casino also being developed by Rock Gaming. There were no injuries in that incident and construction has resumed.

(Contributing: The Associated Press)

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