Greenfield calls for investigation after boy falls through manhole
It’s a story that has a happy ending, but Councilman David Greenfield said he wants to make sure it’s a story that is not repeated.
In the wake of the successful rescue of a 10-year-old boy who fell through an open manhole on a Borough Park street on Jan. 14, Greenfield called on the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) to review the response to the incident in order to prevent a similar accident from happening again.
“First and foremost, I am relieved that this child only suffered minor injuries and will make a full recovery. Obviously this incident could have had a much worst outcome, which is why we need to immediately look into the city’s response beginning with the first 311 report of the broken manhole cover,” Greenfield (D-Borough Park-Midwood-parts of Bensonhurst) said. “We also need to know why the manhole cover was missing. After all, it is incumbent on the city to ensure that its infrastructure is maintained and properly working, and to have a plan in place for when situations like this arise.”
DNA Info reported that 10-year-old Moshe Altman fell down the uncovered manhole at 13th Avenue near 49th Street at around 8:40 a.m. The child plunged approximately 20 feet.