Trailer Doors Confuse Model and Cause Fall

A trailer transporting models to a fashion shoot became a trailer of near death, as one model fell onto the Gowanus Expressway at 50 MPH after accidentally opening an exit door. How did such a mistake occur? Tatyana Simanava had been using the trailer's bathroom, which has two doors, one back to the trailer and one to the outside, useful for shoots once the trailer is safely parked. She apparently was "disoriented" about which door she entered through and chose the wrong door to exit, dislocating a shoulder and suffering numerous other injuries in the process. A police source says "She could have easily gotten run over" by other cars or the trailer itself, but luckily the driver of the trailer saw her fall out. That's pretty scary - we guess the doors weren't labeled or that the door to the outside wasn't locked. Maybe these coaches need "adult locks" the way cars have child safety locks.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 10, 2006 11:11 AM

Comments [rss]

Shalin

"Simanava is listed..size-8 model with measurements of 32-24-35 who has been featured in ads for everyone from Alysi to Velesca to David's Bridal"

size 8, David's Bridal.

is she really a model?

why did this make the news?

miss

aww i miss Six Feet Under...

ABC Girl

If those 2 bathroom doors were not properly & clearly marked, I think this model just became a multi-millionaire....

narm

Sounds like the beginning of a Six Feet Under episode.

Hope she didn't ruin her model good looks.

S.D.

Bet Jay Leno and David Letterman jump all over this one...

Glad she made it and Hope she has medical Insurance.

Aixelsyd

What did you saw? He say her fall out?

rikomatic

Clearly some assistant / intern is getting fired.

It frankly sounds like something I might do. I don't like being in tiny bathrooms and would just rush through whatever door was closest.

Glad she didn't die. What a horrible way to go.

J

The REAL question here is what a busload of models was doing in Bay Ridge in the first place.

Manbearpig

This proves it. From now on, models should be transported via the shortbus and be strapped down until they reach their final destination.

remainseated

It's like confusing the emergency exit door and the lavatory door in an airplane.

She was lucky she was not fatally injured.

Gwinny

Usually, when you open a door, you are attuned to noises on the other side -- say, traffic, or perhaps a roomful of models. Also, there are visual cues: interior of a vehicle, or scenery rushing by at 40 mph.

With all those "hints," I'm not sure how this girl could've stepped into the void.

Andrew Gottlieb

If I am not sure, I surely don't step aggressively. Caution becomes the watchword at that point.

MH

n - I was wonder about a substance that may have disoriented her.

will

nope. not me either.

n

cocaine is a helluva drug!

janine

never

Andrew J. Lederer

On the other hand, this sounds like something that could happen to anybody. How many times have you gone to a public toilet and, when leaving, seen two doors -- one maybe for a service closet and one which is actually the exit -- and not known which to choose?