Jennifer Millman

Swinging Scaffold Smashes Windows of Luxury High-Rise, Sends Glass Raining Onto Lower Manhattan Street

Two window washers stranded in the mishap had to be rescued by firefighters

What to Know

  • Two workers at a building under construction were rescued 45 stories above lower Manhattan when their equipment malfunctioned Friday morning
  • Traffic was stalled in the area as multiple emergency crews and units responded; the workers were soon pulled to safety
  • The 64-story building will feature glass-walled apartments priced at up to $40 million, its website said

Two workers were rescued after a scaffold platform started swinging and shattered windows on a luxury high-rise more than 40 stories above lower Manhattan early Friday, a frightening incident that brought the area near West and Murray streets to a halt as the morning rush reached its peak.

The FDNY says one passerby was hit with falling glass but declined medical treatment following the mishap around 8:30 a.m. at the ultraluxury condo building under construction. It's about 10 blocks from the World Trade Center. 

Fire Department Lt. Cris DiBenedetto says firefighters were "getting rained on by glass shards" as they arrived. They helped the workers off the scaffold and through a 45th-floor window.

One witness told News 4 he could hear the workers calling out for help.

"I could hear guys screaming and screaming," said the witnesss, Sean Millea.

Chopper 4 showed nearly a half-dozen fire and emergency vehicles near the scene. An empty scaffolding was seen hanging on the side of the building, several firefighters near a broken window inside.

The city Buildings Department says it found the scaffold hadn't been properly secured. The agency is still investigating and hasn't issued any violations as yet.

A call to the building's sales office wasn't immediately returned. Its website says the 64-story building will feature glass-walled apartments priced at up to $40 million.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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