Man pleads guilty in Philly demolition that killed 6

A Philadelphia heavy equipment operator pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter and recklessly endangering for his role in a botched building demolition that killed six people two years ago.

Sean Benschop wants to "take responsibility for his actions and the responsibility he bears for the loss of life," lawyer Bill Davis told the Daily News before the plea was entered. "He cries and prays almost every night for those people who lost their lives and their families."

More than a dozen people were injured when part of the building being demolished collapsed onto a Salvation Army thrift store on June 6, 2013. Rescuers using buckets and bare hands worked through the night removing bricks and rubble in search of survivors and victims.

Benschop, 44, pleaded guilty to six counts of involuntary manslaughter, 12 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of causing a catastrophe.

Benschop has been jailed since the tragedy. He and contractor Griffin Campbell, 50, also were charged with six counts of third-degree murder, which could have brought a life sentence. Prosecutors dropped those charges against Benschop and agreed not to seek a sentence of more than 10-20 years.

Blood tests showed Benschop had traces of marijuana and prescription narcotics in his system on the day of the accident.

Campbell is scheduled for trial Sept. 28. His lawyers have said Campbell was simply following the orders of building owner Richard Basciano, who has not been criminally charged.