They say that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. But what happens when the house throws rocks? That’s what happened a few days ago at the controversial Atlantic Yards Project in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Paper reports that a construction accident involving a drill on the east end of the enormous project injured two people. The project is said to be the biggest ever in the borough’s history.
The accident rained egg-sized clumps of packed dirt and stones on pedestrians and motorists, hurting a pair of people and damaging at least seven vehicles.
Luckily, the injuries weren’t life-threatening, though one person was hospitalized with a head wound. The other was treated at the scene.
The incident was at the corner of Vanderbilt Avenue and Atlantic Avenue on Tuesday morning around 10:30.
“I heard this loud sound, but I didn’t know where it was coming from,” said one commuter. “Then rocks and dirt started falling all over my car.”
The man said the unexpected assault on his vehicle left him frightened — understandably so.
Apparently a hydraulic drill malfunctioned, sending the hail of dirt and rocks downward for nearly two minutes.
A number of motorists pulled over as the dangerous rain fell, with their vehicles sustaining broken windshields, windows and sunroofs.
Thank goodness there were no truly serious injuries in the incident.
Pile-driving is expected to continue at the site for two more months. It’s all part of the infrastructure being installed on the Long Island Railroad’s Vanderbilt Yards. Developer Forest City Ratner is erecting the Barclays Center, which is designed to be the new home of pro basketball’s Brooklyn-bound New Jersey Nets.
Source: Brooklyn Paper: “Accident injures two and damages cars at Atlantic Yards” by Thomas Tracy: June 23, 2011