Partial scaffold collapse in Rockville Centre

No one was injured and there was no damage Wednesday afternoon as workers demolishing the vacant Smith Barney and Sylvia’s Corset buildings on Merrrick Road accidentally caused a brick wall to hit a scaffold, causing a partial collapse. The site is under construction for a new TD Bank branch.

“The scaffolding did what scaffolding is supposed to do, which is to prevent any building material during demolition from getting on to the sidewalk and street and endangering the public,” said village spokesman Jeff Kluewer.

Part of a wall and construction debris fell onto the scaffold which remained intact, Kluewer said. He estimated that a 15-20-foot section of debris fell on to the plywood that covers the top of the piping structure that holds the scaffold in place. An adjacent village light pole was snapped during the accident

Village administrators, emergency workers and building department inspectors rushed to the scene. Merrick Road between S. Park Avenue and Davison Place was closed for approximately 20 minutes as workers cleaned the area. Cones are now restricting traffic on Merrick Road from four to two lanes.