Video shows woman nearly hit by ceiling panel at MBTA station
CAMBRIDGE - New video shows the moment a ceiling panel fell at the Harvard MBTA station on Wednesday.
It crashed to the ground at Cianna Navarro's feet as she walked toward the stairs. "In the moment I was definitely very shaken up," Navarro told WBZ Friday night.
The 21-year-old Suffolk University student had just been running errands.
"I was obviously in a state of shock," Navarro said. "I didn't really know what was happening, obviously I'm just walking off the T trying to get home and the ceiling comes crashing down."
Commuters who watched the video Friday night were also shocked. "It's just really concerning that especially a public place like this that this could happen to someone, and it's so out of our control," Clara Maple said.
The panels, which are suspended from the ceiling, were installed in 1980 and are used for "aesthetics and soundproofing" according to the MBTA.
They are made of aluminum with an insulated backing. The panels weigh five pounds, but the one that fell was approximately 25 pounds due to moisture buildup.
"Preliminary observations are that the panel failed because of corrosion," said interim MBTA General Manager Jeffrey Gonneville.
The MBTA removed any other panels that posed an immediate safety concern.
"I am extremely thankful and relieved that there were no injuries as a result of this accident," Gonneville said.
Panels at all MBTA stations will be inspected. If they only have aesthetic use, they will also come down.
"I hope change does happen because who knows what would have happened if I took one more step or if it was an elderly person or a child in that situation," Navarro said.
Commuters say the inspections are long overdue. "If it's to the point where ceilings are falling in then there should probably be more regular inspections," commuter Katalina Toth said.
