By Meredith Hoffman and Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo Staff
WILLIAMSBURG — A massive billboard came crashing down on Meeker Avenue Friday afternoon, striking the busy Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and causing the partial collapse of a building on the block, authorities said.
The falling billboard caused the partial collapse of 421 Meeker Ave., near Manhattan Avenue, about 2:15 p.m., the FDNY said. It also crashed into the BQE, stalling traffic on the busy expressway.
There were no reports injuries in the crash, which caused a gas leak at the address, fire officials said.
Traffic had resumed on the BQE about an hour after the incident, which caused heavy delays on nearby streets, according to the Department of Transportation.
Gas at the building was shut off and a crane was set to come in and remove the debris Friday night, fire officials at the scene said.
Officials added that there were no reports of structural damage on the BQE and that police were handling traffic on the busy expressway.
A man who owns a mechanic shop a couple doors down from 421 Meeker Ave. said he heard the billboard shaking just before it collapsed, sending him running outside.
"I was afraid it was going to fall and kill us,” Luis Ortega said in Spanish, adding that he heard similar sounds last week and wasn't surprised the billboard came down.
"It was shaking and making sounds," he said. "I said to people it was going to fall.”
Another who was witness walking nearby at the time said he saw the billboard come crashing down.
"It sounded like a sledgehammer across hollow metal," said Ian Bestor, 28, of Williamsburg.
