VIDEO: Sign falls on woman standing on NYC sidewalk

Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Huge sign falls on top of two women in Brooklyn
The two women were seriously injured in the collapse.

BAY RIDGE, Brooklyn -- A video shows two women struggling after a huge sign collapsed on top of them in Brooklyn.

The awning came crashing down onto the sidewalk at 9412 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge around 5:45 p.m. Monday.

"Her friend was hit by it," neighbor Frankie Goode said. "The other woman was crushed by it completely. It fell on top of her."

Goode's home surveillance camera captured the horrifying moments when one woman was left stuck underneath the heavy signage and the other knocked to the ground as bystanders rushed to help.

The fire department was on scene four minutes later. The women were taken to the hospital with what appeared to be minor injuries but were later found to be more serious.

Goode said a language barrier made gathering information difficult, as the most seriously-injured victim only speaks Russian.

"She was devastated, she was in shock," Goode said. "Somebody asked her her name. She didn't know how to answer, just looked dumbfounded."

He took the video to the hospital and showed it to a nurse.

"Both ladies are lucky to be alive," he said. "I tell you one thing, God bless them both. I don't know how they're both alive."

A vacate order is now posted on the front door, and the Department of Buildings also found what they called illegal renovations going on upstairs.

The building's owner, Dr. Gary Herskovits, expressed his remorse off camera. But on camera, he refused to comment.

The victims are both expected to survive.