Woman critically injured when façade falls from building at Ashland and Milwaukee
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A woman was critically injured late Wednesday when a stone façade fell from a building in Wicker Park.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, Milwaukee Avenue remained close at Ashland Avenue so as to ensure that no one got too close to the building right at the intersection of those two thoroughfares where the limestone fell.
Just before 6 p.m., emergency crews rushed to the busy intersection and arrived to find a woman crushed by chunks of limestone.
"No warning," said witness Frank Rowland. "Just all of a sudden, it fell off."
Witnesses told CBS 2 the sound of concrete and a heavy sign crashing through the scaffolding around the building could be heard blocks away.
"If you ever heard a rockslide, that's what it would've sounded like," Rowland said.
Rowland was approaching the Wicker Park intersection when he saw the commotion.
"There was a woman, and she was down - she was on her back," he said.
The concrete façade that covered the front of the building gave way the exact moment the 25-year-old woman walked by.
"There was blood coming off of her head," Rowland said. "Something hit her head."
Despite the danger, we're told several people rushed to the woman's side as she bled on the sidewalk.
"There was one particular – one young woman who kind of held her hand and waited until the ambulance and fire trucks showed up to help," Rowland said.
Witnesses said the scaffolding in front of 1227 N. Milwaukee Ave. popped up about two weeks ago. A search of city records shows that just last month, the owner was required to register the property as a vacant building.
City building inspectors were on the scene late Wednesday assessing the damage and the safety of what was left of the building's stability.
"The sign was hanging by three chains after all the debris fell off, so I'm thinking the debris fell and it took the sign with it," Rowland said.
While the investigation and possible blame start, Rowland is just thinking of the woman who did not make it home.
"I was hoping that she was OK, and then we could see she was moving a little bit – so I'm sure she's been badly injured, but maybe she'll survive it," Rowland said.
Lying in the sidewalk amid the debris Wednesday night was a "sidewalk closed" sign directing people to use the other side. It was not clear if the woman was underneath the scaffolding or walking around it when she was injured.
The woman was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County in critical condition.
