Falling piece of building facade strikes teen in head on Queens sidewalk

A teenager was injured Saturday after being hit by falling debris in Queens.

It happened just after noon outside a business on 82nd Street between Roosevelt and 37th avenues in Jackson Heights.

14-year-old injured

According to investigators, a 14-year-old boy was walking with his parents when a piece of the building's facade estimated to weigh about 40 pounds fell and hit him in the head.

"I heard the boom," witness Daisy Narula said. "I thought it was a car accident."

Witnesses called 911.

"I came outside and I heard the kid screaming, like loudly, and when I came to see, he had this big wound on the side of his head," Narula said. "He was almost about to pass out, but luckily, he stayed conscious until at least 911 came."

The boy was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

"If it wasn't for the fact the store had [an awning] ... I don't think it would have fell directly, like, on the side of his head," Narula said. "It would have literally fell on top, and he might, he would have not made it."

Back in 2019, 60-year-old Erica Tischman was killed when a piece of a building's facade fell on her in Midtown. Since then, the city has created a facade and safety inspection program.

Violation issued

The Department of Building said inspectors determined part of the building parapet's decorative terracotta became loose, fell off the building and bounced off a store awning before hitting the teenager.

The building owner was issued a violation for failing to maintain their facade, and ordered to conduct repairs and put up a sidewalk shed around the property, the DOB said.

The building had no prior complaints related to the facade.

One witness told CBS News New York there was a strong wind before the piece of stone fell. The CBS News New York Weather Team reports winds were gusting at around 40 mph at that time.

The DOB has not said whether wind was a factor.