Piece of Fire Escape Falls on Two Pedestrians In Lower Manhattan

A piece of a metal fire escape step fell seven stories and hit two pedestrians on a Lower Manhattan sidewalk Friday afternoon, leaving them with serious injuries, officials said.

The victims, including a man and a 24-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man, were rushed to Bellevue Hospital after the incident on Howard Street near Broadway just after 1:30 p.m., fire officials said. The man was in critical condition, police said. The woman was treated for a head wound and was expected to survive.

A private contractor was on the fire escape at the seventh floor conducting a routine inspection of the facade at the time of the incident, according to FDNY spokesman Jim Long, who briefed reporters at the scene.

The step came loose beneath the inspector's feet, and fell to the sidewalk below.

"Under her weight the step became dislodged," said Long. "She actually fell partially through the fire escape. Thankfully she was able to pull herself up."

Long said that woman had minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.

Chris Siemer, an onlooker who worked at a store across the street, described a chaotic scene. He noticed a child crying and pointing, and the child's mother tugging him away. Siemer looked to see what the commotion was about.

"There were two bodies on the floor," he said. "His head was a little bit flattened. There was blood everywhere.

Department of Building officials were on scene conducting an investigation and issued one violation to the owners for failing to safeguard the building, which could result in fines of up to $25,000. They also are requiring the building owner to hire fire guards to assist during emergencies. Peter O'Farrill of Cushman & Wakefield is listed as the owner, according to Department of Building records. He didn't return a request for comment right away.

The most recent inspection of the fire escape in 2013 found no defects, Department of Buildings officials said. On Friday, the woman who was on the fire escape was a private contractor who was hired inspect the facade and fire escape, leading up to a mandatory city inspection, conducted once every five years for buildings over six stories.

Nadav Hazon, 24, who works at a clothing store around the corner, said the randomness of the incident was frightening.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated as new information becomes available.

"I'm passing by that street every day on my way to work," he said. "That could happen to me."