NYPD: Jumper Lands On Hospital Oxygen Tank, Severing Supply
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man apparently jumped off a building and landed on a hospital's pressurized oxygen tank, causing a leak and cutting off the oxygen supply to the hospital, according to authorities.
It happened around 2 a.m. Friday at Mount Sinai West Hospital on the west side of Manhattan.
Police said the 31-year-old man jumped from a residential building next to the hospital on West 59th Street. The impact broke a line to the oxygen tank just outside of the emergency department, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
The man, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead. There were no other injuries, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
The leaking oxygen -- a major fire hazard -- triggered a swarm of police, firefighters and hazmat teams to shut down 59th Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues.
The NYPD said the emergency room was evacuated as a precaution and patients there were relocated to other rooms of the hospital. Incoming patients were diverted to other hospitals in the area.
Residents in the area woke up to a scene of flashing lights.
"It's just absolutely frightening," West Side resident Rita Appollon said. "It seems like everything is being taken care of so that's good. We have very good response here and thank God we live right next to a hospital."
"It's scary for one, I had no idea," West Side resident Eve Richard said. "Oh my God, wow."
The leak was contained just before 6 a.m. and the area was determined to be safe, police said.
Hospital officials say they expect new tanks to be brought in and installed by the afternoon.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
