Photo: CBS2
At around 9:44 a.m., police responded to a call regarding an “unconscious” woman lying in the middle of a walkway.
When emergency responders arrived on the scene, they discovered Ji “unconscious” and “unresponsive,” NYPD says.
Ji’s death remains under investigation.
Robert Cheng, the managing director of Kam Kee Realty Inc. did not immediately respond to PEOLPE’s request for comment.
The company allegedly alreadyhas a number of open violationsat the site, theNew York Postreported.
DOB did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment but shared astatementwith NBC New York.
“Our preliminary investigation found that an aluminum covered plywood panel at the front of the building collapsed to the sidewalk below, tragically striking a pedestrian. Forensic engineers and inspectors from the Department are still on the site, conducting a thorough investigation of the entire building, to ensure that there is no further danger to the public,” DOB said in a statement to NBC New York.
Witness Pan Zheng Qiang told the outlet, “As she was being carried into the ambulance she was breathing, her eyes were open. I thought she would make it.”
“When we came down the street I was like ‘let me cover her.’ It’s not safe around here. I think people don’t really watch out for safety around this area,” resident Emily Li told CBS New York.
As for how Li was hit, resident Danny Chen told CBS New York the strong winds are to “blame.”
“The wind is — every winter it’s so strong. The wind is to blame,” Chen explained to the news outlet.
Mayor Bill de Blasioalso spoke outabout the freak accident writing on Twitter, “Heartbreaking news out of Queens. @NYCBuildings is investigating this site top-to-bottom to determine whether proper protocols were followed. Please keep the family and loved ones of this woman in your thoughts today.”
source: people.com
