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The incident took place around 9:44 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, in the area of 41-28 Main Street in Flushing, Queens, said the New York City Police.
According to police, Xiang Ji, of Westbury, died after the piece of plywood flew off the building, striking her.
Officers found Ji unconscious and EMS transported her to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Queens where she was pronounced dead, NYPD said.
"Heartbreaking news out of Queens," Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter following the incident. "NYCBuildings is investigating this site top-to-bottom to determine whether proper protocols were followed. Please keep the family and loved ones of this woman in your thoughts today."
Building department officials said in a statement that a preliminary investigation found an aluminum covered plywood panel at the front of the building collapsed to the sidewalk below, tragically striking the woman.
The property owner was issued a violation for failure to properly maintain the building and was ordered to immediately install a sidewalk shed at the location in the interest of public safety.
NYPD and NYCBuildings said an investigation is ongoing and additional enforcement actions may be issued at the conclusion.
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