Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
[Updates] Woman Killed By Falling Building Debris Near Times Square
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 17, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Shutterstock
By
Ben Yakas
Published Dec 17, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Officials say a woman was killed Tuesday morning after a piece of a building fell on her near Times Square. [Updates Below]
An FDNY spokesperson said the deadly incident happened around 10:45 a.m. at 7th Avenue and West 49th Street. A police spokesperson confirmed that first responders found a 60-year-old woman unconscious and unresponsive, with trauma to the head; she was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, she was struck by debris falling from the building above her. No other injuries were reported.
The woman was reportedly walking on 49th Street when she was struck by the debris. Sources told CBS2 a building facade gave way.
The investigation is still ongoing, and we'll update as we learn more information.
Update 3 p.m.: According to city building records, Himmel + Meringoff Properties, the owners of the property at 729 Seventh Avenue, were cited in April for “failure to maintain exterior building facade and appurtenances.” Building inspectors noted at the time “damaged terra cotta at areas above 15th floor in several locations which poses a falling hazard for pedestrians.”
The Times adds that in late November, the building received approval to begin masonry repair work on its facade, and that it would be installing scaffolding up to 150 feet tall to repair the facade.
Update 3:30 p.m.: The victim has now been identified as Erica Tishman. Tishman was a vice president at Zubatkin Owner Representation LLC, a project management company headquartered on 52nd Street.
A spokesperson from Himmel + Meringoff Properties said in a statement: “We are saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family. The company will fully cooperate with the City in the ongoing matter.”
Tagged
Times Square
death
midtown
7th avenue
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .