NYPD: Westbury woman killed by falling sheet of plywood in Queens
A sheet of plywood fell off a building in Queens on Thursday morning and killed a Westbury woman walking on the sidewalk, according to the NYPD.
The woman was identified as Xiang Ji, 67, of Rockaway Avenue in Westbury, the NYPD said in a news release. She was found unconscious by police officers responding at about 9:40 a.m. to a 911 call near 41st Road and Main Street in the Flushing neighborhood. She was declared dead at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital, where she was brought by medics.
She had been struck as she walked westbound on 41st Road near Main Street, when the plywood fell off 41-28 Main St., according to Arlene Muniz, an NYPD spokeswoman.
It was the second death in a month from falling building debris in New York City. On Dec. 17, Erica Tishman, 60, of Manhattan was walking on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk when she was struck in the head by a piece of a building.
The NYPD on Thursday had initially incorrectly said in a news release about the Flushing incident that the plywood fell from scaffolding on Main Street.
Department of Buildings spokeswoman Abigail Kunitz said no scaffolding was present and the object that fell was an aluminum-covered plywood panel at the front of the building.
“We have issued a violation to the property owner for failure to properly maintain the building, and have ordered the immediate installation of a sidewalk shed at the location in the interest of public safety," Kunitz said in an email Thursday evening. "Investigations into this incident, by DOB and our partners in law enforcement, are ongoing, and additional enforcement actions may be issued.”
Kunitz said there are 18 open violations at the property, mostly for illegal work without a permit, an unpermitted business sign and illegal occupancy.
The owner is Kam Kee Realty Inc., according to the Department of Finance, which maintains ownership records. A representative of the company could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory for Thursday — northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph — beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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