Commuter Escapes Near-Disaster in NYC Tunnel
A commuter in New York City had a terrifying near-miss when a large piece of debris fell unexpectedly in a tunnel under the Bridge Apartments.
During his commute home from his job at the Department of Environmental Protection around 6 a.m. on Thursday, John Toledo, 61, found himself in a situation that seemed straight out of a horror film. The incident resulted in his car being completely totaled.
Toledo expressed his relief on Reddit, stating, “I’m lucky to be alive. The car is finished. Now I have to figure out who to complain to.”
With no time to stop, he swerved and collided with a massive stone slab, as reported by Gothamist.
This incident transpired on the Trans-Manhattan Expressway, which runs between the George Washington Bridge and the Cross Bronx Expressway. The tunnel in question is situated beneath a four-building, 32-story apartment complex in Washington Heights.
“If I had come out a second or two earlier, instead of hitting the front of the car, the piece of concrete could have gone through the windshield and I wouldn’t have spoken to you,” Toledo noted while recounting the experience.
He shared the dashcam footage of the incident online, highlighting the alarming circumstances.
Toledo emphasized the need for thorough inspections of the structure for the safety of future drivers, saying, “Those responsible for that structure need to work together to inspect it so something like that doesn’t happen again.”
The Port Authority, which oversees the road, stated that they’ve inspected and repaired the damage. A spokesperson confirmed, “Video was released Thursday showing debris approaching the GWB. After inspecting the affected area, we confirmed that a localized ceiling component had failed, and all necessary repairs have been completed.”
After watching the footage, many Reddit users expressed their shock at how narrowly Toledo avoided a tragic outcome. One user remarked, “Every time I go under that thing I wonder what the hell is holding that building up,” while another added, “You’re lucky you weren’t killed.”
