IT’S HOLE LOTTA PAIN
1 hurt in Village sidewalk fail
THE SIDEWALK collapsed in front of an East Village nail salon Saturday, sending a worker plunging into the building’s basement.
The ground suddenly gave way in front of the Ultra Nail Salon on E. Fourth St. near First Ave. about 10:40 a.m., officials said.
A salon employee was getting ready to open the shop for business when the sidewalk crumbled beneath her feet, according to co-worker Nascisa Leone.
The sinkhole swallowed the woman and sent her tumbling into the basement.
Medics rushed her to Bellevue Hospital, officials said. Her injuries were not life-threatening.
“They had to give her a lot of X-rays everywhere, but she’s OK,” said Leone, who was in touch with the victim’s family. “She’s hurt but it’s nothing serious.”
The Buildings Department was investigating the collapse. There are five floors of condominiums above the nail salon.
The agency issued “aggravated violations” to the property owner for failing “to maintain the building in a safe manner” and vacate orders for the nail salon and another ground-floor store, a spokesman said.
On Aug. 5, Mariana Fuentes, 47, plunged into an underground vault after a piece of sidewalk gave way in front of a W. 158th St. building.
The mother of two’s leg was broken in the Washington Heights incident.
Buildings Department inspectors issued violations for failing to maintain the sidewalk.