Crews have successfully removed 19 vehicles from the underground parking garage at the Empire Towers in Glen Burnie, Maryland, after they were trapped for months. An estimated 100 vehicles had been stuck inside since July 9, when the office building was evacuated because unpermitted work caused the structure to shift and become unsafe.

Workers began driving the accessible vehicles out of the garage and relocating them to a nearby lot off Ritchie Highway for documentation and monitoring. Vehicle owners whose cars are eligible for removal must sign a release form and liability waiver to prevent holding the construction and preservation companies responsible for potential pre-existing damage. While about half of the trapped vehicles are expected to be safely retrieved, some owners have been informed that their cars may be permanently damaged or unable to be recovered due to the shifted concrete structure.