Generator explosion at Midtown parking garage sends debris flying, injuring 2 pedestrians
MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Two women were injured, including one seriously, after an explosion at a parking garage in Midtown Manhattan sent a heavy vent cover flying into pedestrians, according to officials.
The FDNY says the explosion happened just after 9 p.m. at 160 E. 53rd St. between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue, outside the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion.
The FDNY confirmed that a diesel emergency generator inside the garage sparked the blast, launching pieces of metal across the street and injuring two 25-year-old women.
FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Abbamonte said there was "some kind of back draft or back puff of a generator" which he says caused the heavy steel vent cover to propel across 53rd Street.
A witness told Eyewitness News it happened so suddenly, people didn't have a chance to get out of the way.
"It was scary. It was very scary. But the first thing that I did, I call EMS. I called 911 for the girls because I saw the girl was not responding, was not moving at the point she was unconscious," said witness Carlos Nanez. "She was unconscious. I thought for a second because she was not responding. The other girl was screaming."
Both of the victims were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and are expected to be OK.
FDNY officials believe the explosion was accidental.
"It might have been a, either a back push on the generator, and, it just ignited maybe the soot in the chimney or the vent pipe, causing it to explode," Abbamonte said.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center told Eyewitness news a generator fan component became dislodged during routine testing and struck the two pedestrians.
"We are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full review to determine what happened. Our thoughts are with those affected," the hospital said in a statement.
Fire Marshals are investigating, and are also looking into whether the diesel generator was being operated safely.
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