A Brooklyn, New York City woman, aged 74, has tragically passed away after a section of her brownstone collapsed onto her in the Sunset Park neighborhood.
The incident took place on Tuesday, February 13, when Dale Singer was removing snow in front of her building around 12:30 p.m. local time. Unexpectedly, bricks from above the building door fell onto her.
Shocking video shows the stones toppling down, striking Singer and piling up on top of her.
According to a spokesperson from the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), the incident happened at a two-story residential unit on 6th Avenue, which is 120 years old. Following reports of falling bricks, DOB personnel were dispatched to inspect the building’s structural integrity.
Upon arrival, inspectors found that the lintel above the entrance door had collapsed onto the front stairs and stoop. Singer was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she later died from her injuries, according to police reports.
The victim’s son, Wylie Singer, recounted the incident to the New York Daily News. He stated that he heard the sound of the façade falling and rushed downstairs to find his mother unconscious at the bottom of the landing. Singer’s husband also arrived at the scene quickly and then took a cab to Maimonides Medical Center to be with his wife.
City records cited by the publication reveal no complaints about the two-story apartment since 1991, except for an illegal curb cutout and driveway. Following the accident, the DOB said that forensic engineers conducted a thorough inspection of the building and issued a Vacate Order. The property owner was given a violation for failing to maintain the building and ordered to hire a structural engineer to submit a report on the building’s status.
In addition, city contractors will install a sidewalk shed around the building for public safety, the cost of which will be borne by the property owner. DOB forensic engineers will also follow up with the property owners regarding building repairs.
A neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to the Daily News about witnessing firefighters perform CPR on Singer. She described her as a lovely person and expressed her sorrow at the tragic event. According to a friend of Singer, the landlord had been trying to sell the building but had not found a buyer.