Brooklyn, New York – A 76-year-old woman tragically died in Brooklyn when a solar panel was ripped off a roof by the nor’easter sweeping through the New York City area on Monday. The powerful gusts sent the panel hurtling into the streets, striking the elderly woman.
Fatal Accident Details
The massive solar panel, measuring over 7-by-3 feet, was mounted on a structure in an outdoor parking lot on Ocean Parkway near Brighton Beach Avenue, according to the NYPD and the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).
Wind gusts lifted the panel approximately 20 feet, hitting Lyudmila Braun, who lived just five blocks away. She was knocked to the ground and transported to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities described her death as a freak accident.
Storm Conditions at the Time
A citywide Wind Advisory was in effect during the storm, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of winds between 20–30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph, capable of turning unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles.
The DOB issued a partial vacate order for the parking lot beneath the solar panel structure and is conducting an ongoing investigation. Additional enforcement actions are pending…