Crushed Cars Revealed!

Last week the owners of the cars crushed in the Washington Heights wall collapse were informed they would have to pay for the towing of their pancaked automobiles. Well, now that the dirt has been removed, Gothamist reader Bob Matsuoka went up to Castle Village and got some shots of the cars-- doesn't look like those wrecks are going anywhere without a crane and flatbed truck-- and how much is that going to cost the owners?

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By Jake Dobkin in News on August 31, 2006 4:48 PM

Comments [rss]

BobM

Actually, I live in Castle Village (CV), and my home office looks over the (former) wall, so I didn't have to travel far to take that picture. Liability issues for the wall collapse are complex. Our co-op owns the wall, and had hired an engineering firm to monitor the wall and make repairs. The wall was built in the early part of the 20th century, before the Henry Hudson parkway and on-ramp (the on-ramp is where the cars were buried, and the parkway is just above in that picture). Prior to the collapse, CV had requested closure of the on-ramp to perform wall repairs, and was waiting for city approval. Also, the engineering firm had indicated that wall collapse was not imminent.

So who's at fault will be in the courts for some time...

ruidh

The thing is, if their insurance company has paid them off as their car being a total loss, they don't own it any more. The insurance company does.

Homesick Texan

Will the money gouging of this city ever cease? I smell a class action suit.

Dan

Gimme a break, the retaining wall that collapsed is reponsibility of the city. The city should pay for the towing and should also add a little extra something for the damage & inconvenience provoked by the city's own FAILURE to properly maintain that retaining wall.

If the wall is on private property, the property owner is then DEFINITELY liable for all expenses incurred.

What the hell is wrong with NY?. Here in CA the city would not only pay up promptly but probably apologize as well!.

Jeeze, don't you have any good lawyers left in NYC or did they all come out here?.

Bitchin' dudes.