UPDATED: Porte-Cochère Collapse at the Regency Hotel Kills Man

BAR HARBOR—Early Monday morning, February 24, the Bar Harbor Fire Department responded to a collapse of the porte-cochère at the Regency Hotel where one man died. The porte-cochère provides shelter to people leaving or entering buildings from a vehicle. It is a common roofed structure used in American hotels and other buildings.

Bar Harbor police officers also responded to the scene.

In a press release sent out at 10 a.m., Bar Harbor Police Captain Chris Wharff said the fire department responded at 6:46 a.m. “to a report of a large canopy that had collapsed.”

Initial reports specified that “one person was reported to have been trapped underneath the collapsed canopy. Upon arrival, Bar Harbor Fire Department worked to locate the trapped person and free them from the collapsed debris.”

“Despite efforts, the individual involved, identified as Mark King, age 64, of Boynton Beach, Florida, was located and succumbed to their injuries. He was pronounced deceased on scene,” Wharff wrote.

Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Officers responded to the scene shortly after and conducted an initial death investigation.

“The Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments are assisting the State of Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) with their continued investigation into this incident. OSHA will serve as the primary investigating agency for this case,” Wharff wrote.

An officer on the scene had earlier confirmed that one person had died in the incident. Another person, the son of the deceased according to those on scene, had minor injuries. Both men were working at the time of the collapse.

The structure was slated to be worked on today.

Crews were on the scene at 7 a.m. Shortly afterward, scanner traffic called a code that indicates that a death had occurred and there were requests for pastoral care. OSHA has been notified.

The Bar Harbor Regency is at 123 Eden Street in Bar Harbor. The hotel, which opened in 1986, is approximately 1 mile from downtown Bar Harbor and it hosts business meetings, events, tour groups, and special occasions. Ocean Properties Ltd. owns the 280-room Regency as well as the 193-room Harborside Hotel, and the 114-room West Street Hotel. Bangor native Thomas T. Walsh founded the firm, which holds approximately 100 hotels and resorts across North America, including the Samoset in Rockland.

This story will be updated. We’ve reached out to the Regency for an official statement.

Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story photos.

This article has been updated at 10:07, February 24, to include information from the Bar Harbor Police Department confirming the name of the deceased and other details.

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