Falling Brick Hits Woman in Midtown

A woman walking on 8th Avenue near 45th Street in Midtown Manhattan was hit on the head by a falling brick. WABC 7 reports the victim, a 17-year-old, was taken to St. Vincent's in stable condition around 8 a.m. Also, one business owner claims a construction worker tried to clean up the bricks, rather than help the victim: "The crowd screamed at him and told him to leave the bricks because he was trying to move the evidence." Another area resident said he's seen falling bricks and other residents say they avoid walking under the scaffolding.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 16, 2008 1:03 PM

Comments [rss]

cucarachita

This has happened to me, or nearly -- where a brick fell at my feet as I emerged from under scaffolding. I simply avoid walking near ANY scaffolding -- no easy task in NYC these days. And then, for all your avoiding scaffolding, a crane might come flying at you from a block away, right?

Still, best not to walk near scaffolding if you can avoid it. People think all they have to do is hire some meathead with muscle to do some heavy lifting on these construction sites. They don't seem to take into account the judgement calls and evaluation skills that are called for when handling heavy machinery or materials that could come into contact with people at high velocities...

I'm all for making all construction workers get licenses to prove their brains are up to managing their brawn. You want a low-paid job where you don't need much of a brain? Become an artist!

:)

Guest

"Was Ignatz Mouse anywhere to be found?"

Best comment ever!

babyhitler

Scary. I usually walk to the adjacent side of the sidewalk anywhere near construction but it seems like There is new construction on each other block now so it gets tiring.

Ted

Was Ignatz Mouse anywhere to be found?

SgtDonut

Holy crap! Sue their ass!

JacqueMehoff

was this where the Collin's bar used to be?

CR

meow - forget 311, i'd call 911 on that shit.

meowster

so scary. what happens to the const. company when this happens anyway? Do they just get a fine?

WARNING- I was walking near (but not under) the scaffolding (because it was too dodgey) on Metropolitan at Haveymeyer (yes the structure where the crane fell over last year) as they were tossing glass sheets from 3 stories above into a dumpster spraying glass all over Metropolitan, on cars and on me. I yelled at the guy and he ran inside.