Construction Vehicle Hits Lefferts Ave. Building, Causes Full Evacuation

PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS, BROOKLYN — A construction vehicle hit an apartment building at 297 Lefferts Ave. on Wednesday afternoon, the FDNY said. No injuries were reported, but the entire building was evacuated by first responders, and power and gas were being turned off at the site, according to the FDNY.

Following the accident, Lefferts Avenue was closed down between Nostrand Avenue and New York Avenue, with multiple fire trucks and dozens of fire fighters on scene.

A large construction site is located behind the building, adjacent to Empire Boulevard. There also appears to be either a construction site, or a pathway to the larger site, located directly to the right of the building.

The Red Cross was at the site of the accident, meeting with residents and assessing their needs, a spokesman said.

On Wednesday afternoon, a resident of 297 Lefferts Ave. waited to get into her apartment, explaining that she needed to retrieve documents related to her son.

"It only happens to poor people," she said of the accident, with resignation.

Pictured at top: the scene at 297 Lefferts Ave. Photo by John V. Santore