Community Corner

Atlantic Yards Drill Glitch Causes Rock Shower, Injuring 2

Seven cars also damaged after spray of packed earth and stones hit Atlantic Avenue.

The Atlantic Yards project has showered the people of Brooklyn with tons of stress, anger and frustration, but on Tuesday the site literally showered them — with golf ball-sized chunks of falling debris.

Two people were injured and seven cars damaged after a drilling accident on the site of caused rocks, packed earth and construction debris to rain down on pedestrians and cars outside of the Atlantic Yards construction site yesterday morning.

At about 10:30 a.m., rocks, earth and debris “burst out” of a hydraulic drill, hitting workers at the site, as well as people and cars at Atlantic Avenue near Vanderbilt Street, according to Joe DePlasco, a spokesman for developer Forest City Ratner. 

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Yahya Alshemi told The Brooklyn Paper that he was driving down Atlantic Avenue when packed mud began raining down on his car in a shower that lasted nearly two minutes.

“I heard this loud sound, but I didn’t know where it was coming from. Then rocks and dirt started falling all over my car,” he said.

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Two passersby received minor injuries. One man was sent to a local hospital for a minor injury, while another person was treated at the scene, according to DePlasco.

Forest City Ratner plans to pay for all needed repairs to the seven damaged cars, DePlasco said.

Officials are still looking into exactly what caused the drill to malfunction. In the meatime, Forest City Ratner has halted drilling while a larger shield is installed on the drill that is designed to contain flying debris.


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