Local News in Brief : Wall at Demolition Site Falls; 2 Passers-By Hurt

Two people were injured Tuesday when the wall of a North Hollywood building under demolition collapsed onto a sidewalk, authorities said.

The victims, who were not immediately identified, were taken to North Hollywood Medical Center following the 5 p.m. accident in the 5300 block of Lankershim Boulevard, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. John Staugaard.

A man, 31, and a woman, 23, were treated for minor cuts and bruises and released, said nursing supervisor Joan Cole. The woman’s children, a 3-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, with her at the time, were not hurt, Cole said.

The four were walking along the sidewalk when the 12-foot-high wall, the last portion of the building being demolished, collapsed, said Battalion Chief John Dahlstein of the Los Angeles Fire Department. It appeared that wind pushed over the wall, Dahlstein said. No one was working at the building site at the time.

The accident is being investigated by the city Department of Building and Safety, authorities said.

Ray Martel, owner of a furniture store across the street from the accident, said he heard the wall collapse and thought it was an earthquake. “I heard a tremendous rumble and looked out to see a big cloud of dust,” Martel said.

Martel called police and paramedics and stayed with the victims until help arrived.