A devastating incident unfolded in Brazoria County, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, leaving two people dead and several others injured after a mobile home collapsed during leveling work.
The tragedy, which claimed the lives of 31-year-old Andray Brown and a 17-year-old boy, occurred on County Road 42, approximately five miles north of Angleton.
The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is currently investigating the cause of the collapse, with early reports suggesting a possible failure of jack equipment used to stabilize the home.
At approximately 5:03 p.m., authorities received a frantic emergency call reporting that a mobile home, in the process of being leveled, had collapsed. Family members who were working on the leveling project were trapped beneath the structure. The scene quickly turned into a multi-agency rescue operation as law enforcement, emergency medical teams, and local firefighters rushed to the site.
Five individuals were trapped under the mobile home when the collapse occurred. Rescuers used chainsaws to cut through parts of the structure in their efforts to free the victims.
According to BCSO, one victim was particularly difficult to reach, requiring more intense efforts to cut through the home’s flooring. The swift and coordinated efforts of the first responders saved multiple lives, but unfortunately, two individuals succumbed to their injuries.
Tragically, Andray Brown, a 31-year-old man, and a 17-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities were confirmed by the sheriff’s office, though the relationship between the victims and their involvement in the leveling work remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, five others were rescued from beneath the wreckage, four of whom were airlifted to hospitals in the Houston area. All four were reported to be in critical condition, fighting for their lives. The fifth individual was taken to a nearby hospital and is currently listed in stable condition, according to officials.
Preliminary findings from the sheriff’s office suggest that a failure in the jack equipment may have caused the mobile home to collapse. Leveling a mobile home involves the use of jacks and other stabilization tools to ensure the structure is balanced and safe. A malfunction or failure in these systems could lead to a catastrophic collapse, especially with people working underneath. Investigators are now focusing on whether faulty equipment, human error, or other factors played a role in this fatal accident.
According to experts in the field, such collapses during leveling work, while rare, are a stark reminder of the risks involved in home renovation and construction projects. Mobile homes are particularly susceptible to shifting and imbalance, making the use of proper equipment and adherence to safety protocols critical. One local construction professional, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted that “the weight distribution during mobile home leveling can be tricky. Any miscalculation or failure in the jacking equipment can quickly lead to a disaster like this.”