Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Truck Nearly Demolishes Downtown Scaffolding

By DNAinfo Staff on May 23, 2011 7:51pm  | Updated on May 23, 2011 8:20pm

Police tape lines the scene of an accident that almost tore down scaffolding in lower Manhattan.
Police tape lines the scene of an accident that almost tore down scaffolding in lower Manhattan.
View Full Caption
Andrea Swalec/DNAinfo

By Andrea Swalec

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

LOWER MANHATTAN — A truck almost tore down buiiding scaffolding in lower Manhattan Monday night but stopped in time to avoid a major accident, cops and witnesses said.

The 26-foot-long truck was turning at the corner of Ann and William streets when it hooked onto the scaffolding above around 6:30 p.m.

Onlookers warned the driver about the danger and he managed to stop before the metal scaffolding came crashing down on top of commuters rushing home from work.

"It got hooked on the scaffold. We started yelling at him to stop," said Bobby Odom, 53, of Brooklyn.

No one was hurt in the accident, which left the scaffolding standing precariously in place.

Commuters continued rushing beneath the scaffolding even as the truck threatened to bring it down.

"People were still coming," Odom said.