The man riding the scooter will probably be reminded of how lucky he was after a building collapse missed him by inches, and he might still be in shock about it.
Footage of the incident that took place in Mount Vernon, New York, has gone viral on social media, highlighting how it nearly took him out. Had he been a tad slower, he might have been crushed under the debris.
While he escaped a major tragedy on Thursday, two cars were crushed beneath the collapsed building. Reports suggest that the building was under construction, but the structure gave way.
The rider returned to the scene of the incident shortly after the collapse, witnessing the rubble that he could have been trapped beneath if he had been delayed by a few seconds.
Speed Saved the Rider
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Surveillance footage shared by ABC News 7 New York on Instagram shows a man riding a scooter moments before the building he was passing collapsed in a matter of seconds.
The video suggests that had he been even a second slower, he could have been crushed by the falling debris. The building appears to have given no warnings before collapsing onto the street, crushing two parked SUVs.
Maintaining a steady speed may have saved the rider’s life. A closer look at the footage shows him making a slight evasive maneuver just as a section of the building crashed down beside him, highlighting his quick reflexes.
After the collapse, the area was engulfed in dust as bystanders rushed toward the rubble. The scooter rider also returned to the scene, seemingly to check on what had happened.
Adjoining Apartment Buildings Were Evacuated
According to a report by Fox 5 New York, the vacant three-story building at 16 North Bond Street suffered a total structural collapse. Two adjoining apartment buildings at 14 and 18 North Bond Street were evacuated, but residents have now been allowed to reenter.
As a result of the incident, power was disconnected in the area, while drivers and pedestrians were asked to avoid the area due to the closure of North Bond Street between Oak Street and Mount Vernon Avenue.
According to Mount Vernon officials, the building collapsed as construction crews were reinforcing it to improve its stability as part of an approved project.
City officials said that they were “conducting comprehensive interior and exterior structural assessments, including evaluations of the adjoining buildings and roofing systems, to determine when it will be safe for residents to reoccupy the neighboring properties.”
It is not known whether any workers, pedestrians, or residents of adjacent buildings were injured in the incident. As for the man on the scooter, he certainly has a remarkable story to tell friends and family back home.