Falling Fire Escape Injures 3 In Soho, Officials Say

SOHO, NY — Two people suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck Friday afternoon by parts of a falling fire escape in Soho, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Michael Gala said.

Pieces of the fire escape at 434 Broadway, located near the corner of Howard Street, fell seven stories down to the street around 1:30 p.m. while a building inspector was on the fire escape, Gala said. A man and a woman walking on the street were struck by the falling metal, the FDNY chief said.

The man and woman were rushed to an area hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, Gala said. The building inspector suffered minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene.

The area where the pedestrians were struck with falling debris was roped off as emergency personnel operated at the scene. Pieces of the building's white fire escape were seen in the roped off area.

The city Department of Buildings will investigate the falling debris, a department spokesman said.

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Image credit: Patch