Work Resumes At Manhattan Construction Site After Saw Blade Accident
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The city has lifted a stop work order at a Manhattan construction site after inspecting all machines in the wake a freak accident Tuesday morning that injured a pedestrian.
Crews resumed work at the site at 9th Avenue near 48th Street Wednesday morning, less than 24 hours after a pedestrian was hurt when authorities said a circular saw blade came loose, flew about 100 feet through the air and struck her.
The incident was captured in nearby surveillance video. In the video, the giant saw blade can be seen flying through the air. Police said after it broke loose, it hit a tree and then the woman, cutting a deep gash in her leg.
The video shows a woman falling to the pavement.
"All of the sudden, everyone started screaming, 'move, get down,'" witness Matt Bisi said, who was walking right behind the woman who was hit by the blade. "I turned and saw the blade come flying down the sidewalk. She was shaking, she was bleeding."
"It was like a crazy movie scene that the blade just flies out to everybody, hit the tree, bounced and went after the lady," said another witness Wanda Serrano.
Another camera angle shows a crowd gathering around the injured woman. She was taken to a hospital and is recovering in stable condition.
Construction crews have been working in the area for the past two years updating the water mains underground.
The blade, which is about 3-feet wide, is used to cut through concrete.
The city Department of Design and Construction is investigating what caused the blade to fly off the saw. Officials removed the machine that caused the freak accident.
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