Ride-share driver escapes serious injury after bricks fall from facade of Manhattan building

A ride-share driver named Juan Monegro narrowly escaped serious injuries when several bricks fell from a building in Manhattan's Meatpacking District on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred while he was parked on Gansevoort Street during his lunch break, across from the Whitney Museum. Monegro reported hearing a loud noise and then felt pain throughout his body as bricks struck his vehicle. His car suffered extensive damage with remnants of his meal scattered around him amidst broken glass and a deployed airbag. Witnesses described the chaos that ensued as bystanders reacted to the falling debris. The incident involved a piece of facade dislodging from the eighth floor of the building, which is owned by TF Cornerstone, during repair operations. The dislodged bricks landed on a sidewalk shed and then on Monegro’s car, raising concerns about the safety protocols in place. In response, the Department of Buildings issued several violations against the building owners, citing a failure to safeguard during the construction. Following this incident, a full stop-work order was placed on all facade operations until the contractor provides assurances against similar occurrences in the future. This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding building facades in urban areas, reminiscent of a tragic case in 2019 when a woman was killed by falling debris. The incident has prompted calls for stricter regulations around facade inspections and safety during building repairs, aiming to protect individuals in the vicinity of such operations.