A freak accident took a New York City woman's life on Wednesday when a piece of plywood dislodged from a construction site and slammed into her body.
Tina Nguyen, a 37-year-old real estate agent, was on the phone walking down West 12th Street in Manhattan's West Village section when a strong gust of wind loosened a wooden board from a fence at a construction site across the street, authorities told the New York Daily News.
The 8-foot long board flew across the road and struck Nguyen, forcing her into the wall of a parking garage where she struck her head. Nguyen, who was four months away from her wedding, was taken to Bellevue Hospital but the head trauma was too severe and she succumbed to her injuries.
The construction site across the street, the location of a former hospital, is being converted into a luxury condominium called The Greenwich Lane. But its property owners have been hit with at least 11 severe building code violations since 2012, according to the Daily News. Complaints of falling debris are among the violations.
City building officials arrived at the scene and immediately halted the site managed by Turner Construction after the 6 p.m. tragedy.
Turner Construction said it's cooperating fully with city authorities during their investigation.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time. Safety on and around our job sites is always our number one priority," the company said, the Daily News reported.
Speaking to the newspaper, Nguyen's fiancé Alex Beitler expressed heartache over what he called "the most devastating loss."
"She always saw the best in everyone," said Beitler, who also works in real estate. "She was always reminding me to see the same."
"She was the woman of my dreams," he continued. "I hope people will remember her by seeing the best in one another and treating each other with true kindness."
