By
Jesse Zanger
Managing Editor, CBS New York
Jesse Zanger is the managing editor of CBSNewYork.com. Jesse has previously worked for the Fox News Channel and Spectrum News NY1. He covers regional news around the Tri-State Area, with a particular focus on breaking news and extreme weather.
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Allen Devlin joined the CBS News New York team in September 2024 and is excited to once again call New York City home.
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Updated on: October 13, 2025 / 6:54 PM EDT
/ CBS New York
There has been at least one storm -related death in New York City. A 76-year-old woman was struck and killed by a solar panel in Brooklyn, officials said.
Shocking videos obtained exclusively by CBS News New York show the wind carrying the massive solar panel away from a parking lot structure and it falling onto Lyudmila Braun’s head during the nor’easter.
Video from another angle shows the moment of impact on Ocean Parkway and West Brighton Beach Avenue in Coney Island at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, as Braun was walking on a sidewalk.
Exclusive video obtained by CBS News New York shows the moment before a solar panel fatally struck a woman in Brooklyn during a nor’easter on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
CBS News New York
Solar panel flew 20 feet before striking woman, officials say Officials said the panel flew about 20 feet through the air before striking the woman. She was rushed to the hospital, where she later died.
Braun’s husband and son spoke with CBS News New York on Monday as they were grieving her loss.
“We just hope that it doesn’t happen to anybody else again. That’s the most important thing. Safety first,” her son said through the callbox at their building. “We’re destroyed right now. We’re at a loss for words.”
“Hopefully nobody else gets hurt, let alone dies, because this is crazy,” Adam Rubenstein, who lives nearby, said. “My uncle lives in this building. I live in the next building, and it could’ve been anybody.”
According to the New York City Department of Buildings, the parking structure belongs to the complex located at 3000 Ocean Parkway and the solar panels were recently added by Best Energy Power, a self-described solar panel equipment company.
The parking structure where the solar panel was detached belongs to the complex at 3000 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, according to the NYC Department of Buildings. Best Energy Power recently added them, DOB said.
CBS News New York
Stop work orders and orders to vacate the parking lot were placed on the front door to the complex Monday. DOB also opted to close the sidewalk and Q train station entrance as a precaution.
Crews were on site inspecting the panels, but the cause of it’s detachment is unknown at this time.
“It was a disgusting accident that never should have happened” CBS News New York contacted Best Energy Power and spoke with employees over the phone multiple times on Monday. They said a manager would call back regarding the incident, but we have not heard back at this time.
“It was a disgusting accident that never should have happened,” Rubenstein said.
New York City has been under a wind advisory, and was when the solar panel accident occurred, due to the nor’easter impacting the Tri-State Area. As of Monday morning, peak wind gusts during the storm were unofficially calculated at 42 mph in Brooklyn.
The Parks Department said it has received 265 reports of downed trees. They confirmed 12 streets had been obstructed by falling trees or limbs, at least half of which had been cleared.
Wind and coastal flooding have been the top concerns with this storm. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect for New York City, Long Island and and Westchester County through 8 p.m. Monday.
Click here for the latest storm warnings and watches.
In:
Brooklyn
Nor’easter
Coney Island
New York City
Shocking video shows moment before flying solar panel fatally struck woman in Brooklyn
Shocking video shows moment before flying solar panel fatally struck woman in Brooklyn
02:04
Shocking video shows moment before flying solar panel fatally struck woman in Brooklyn
(02:04)
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nyc-woman-killed-by-solar-panel-noreaster/
