Falling Facade at 7th and Flower
Eric Richardson / blogdowntown
Caution tape and a BID bicycle block the Flower Street sidewalk where a piece of what appeared to be terra cotta facade fell on Thursday evening.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — A female pedestrian was injured this evening when when she was struck by a falling piece of terra cotta near the corner of 7th and Flower streets.
The chunk—described by one witness as the size of a large purse—appeared to be from the terra cotta facade of the Roosevelt Building. The sidewalk on Flower Street was crowded as office workers made their way to buses and the subway just before 6pm.
LAPD, BID and LAFD officers were soon on-scene to treat the injured woman and assess the situation.
ray dennis on June 02, 2011, at 06:35PM – #1
Was she badly injured?
Wayne Reardon on June 02, 2011, at 07:30PM – #2
Wow, I just saw this, turning up seconds after it happened. The 200 or so lawyers on the sidewalk were telling me she was moving and lucid before the Police arrived. Got this photo showing the size of the huge rocks next to her body http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1157681774608.24338.1004648983#!/photo.phpfbid=2012122975104&set=a.1157681774608.24338.1004648983&type=1&theater
Wayne Reardon on June 02, 2011, at 07:36PM – #3
Sorry, here's a link that actually works:
http://s708.photobucket.com/albums/ww82/waynereardon/?action=view¤t=cid_554-1.jpg
El Dabe Sherif on June 03, 2011, at 10:18AM – #4
Thanks for that photo. It sure looks like a serious injury. She looks like she is completely out. Those big chunks can gather some serious speed on the way down. I have clients who suffered serious injuries with much less. I once represented an 8 year old girl who lost a finger when she was sent to the bathroom unsupervised during a school trip. The big heavy bathroom door closed on her finger. The door weighed about 40 lbs and the speed of the door did not exceed 4 miles per hour. If those terra cotta chunks weighed even 5 lbs, the speed at which they came down could create some serious force.
El Dabe Law Firm: Injury Lawyer
Alex Brideau III on June 03, 2011, at 05:58PM – #5
Well, I think they've reopened the sidewalk now. For the life of me, I can't tell from where on the façade the material fell. I would expect to see a missing chunk of the building or some missing ornamentation, but everything looks normal to me. Pretty disturbing considering I walk under here several times a day.
There are a good number of older buildings downtown of this age. One would hope the inspections of their exteriors are up to date.
Rich on June 06, 2011, at 10:04AM – #6
Alex, I can't tell for sure, but there appears to be a bit missing from just to the left of the fourth- or fifth-floor fire escape. Maybe I was just seeing shadows, though. And I agree... I walk past here once or twice a day usually. Scary.
Rich on June 06, 2011, at 10:04AM – #7
Alex, I can't tell for sure, but there appears to be a bit missing from just to the left of the fourth- or fifth-floor fire escape. Maybe I was just seeing shadows, though. And I agree... I walk past here once or twice a day usually. Scary.