Window washer survives 11-storey fall by landing on moving car
The man was screaming as he fell from the roof a San Francisco building and shattered the car’s windscreen on impact
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A window washer who fell screaming from the roof a San Francisco building survived after he landed on a moving car 11 floors below.
The man, who has not been named, was conscious when paramedics reached him on Friday. He remained in a critical condition at a San Francisco hospital on Friday night, officials said.
The roof of the car that broke his fall was crushed and its rear windscreen shattered, but its driver, Mohammad Alcozai, was not injured.
Mr Alcozai told local news channel KGO-TV that he saw something hit his car just after he made a left turn.
“I’m very happy that I didn’t get hurt,” he said. “Hopefully he can make it. I pray for him that he can make it,” he said, speaking of the window washer.
Witnesses described seeing a blue streak and the man’s shadow as he fell and then hearing shattering glass as he hit the car before rolling onto the ground.
“As he was coming down, he was definitely screaming,” said Bianca Bahman, 31, a pre-medical student at San Francisco State University who had been walking to the gym and was on the corner where the man fell.
Around 20 people rushed to the scene and found the man on his back, bleeding and lucid.
San Francisco police sergeant Danielle Newman said the man was moving equipment on the roof of a bank building in the heart of the financial district, and was not stood on a window-washing platform when he fell.
Sam Hartwell, 56, told Fox News that a nurse was one of the 20 people who had rushed to the man, and that people gathered put clothing on the man while they waited for the ambulance.
“He was lucid. He understood we were there with him,” he said.
Additional reporting by AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments