Partial Collapse of Queens Furniture Store Wall Injures Pedestrian and Bystanders

A significant section of a wall from a furniture store in Queens collapsed onto the street, resulting in injuries to a pedestrian and two children inside a nearby parked vehicle. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. near Jericho Turnpike and 245th Street in Bellerose.

The collapse involved approximately 175 feet of the parapet wall supporting the storefronts, including Plaza Furniture and neighboring businesses. Debris from the damaged structure struck a Jeep parked close by, causing injuries to an 11-year-old girl in the rear seat, who experienced back pain, and a 13-year-old girl in the front seat with right leg pain. A 25-year-old man walking by was also hit and suffered back pain. All victims were taken to local hospitals and listed in stable condition.

Witnesses recounted chaos following the fall. One told a news outlet, “We saw that people needed help. I pulled over, and they were trying to move the facade off to check if anyone was underneath. Luckily, only one person was trapped, and he came out standing.”

City inspection teams arrived to assess the scene and confirmed that about 175 feet of the parapet had fallen onto the sidewalk and street. Authorities issued violations for failing to maintain the building and ordered the owner to erect a protective barrier in front of adjacent properties to safeguard pedestrians.

Additional investigations are underway by the Department of Buildings’ Forensic Engineering Unit. Partial vacate orders have been issued for some of the affected structures, and any enforcement actions against responsible parties remain pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries.