New York Woman Falls to Her Death After Her Balcony Collapses

New Yorkers were shocked yesterday by the tragic story of Jennifer Rosoff, a 35-year-old advertising executive who fell 15 stories to her death when the balcony railing on her apartment gave way.

New Yorkers were shocked yesterday by the tragic story of Jennifer Rosoff, a 35-year-old advertising executive who fell 15 stories to her death when the balcony railing on her apartment gave way. The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday morning after Rosoff returned home from a first date. She was showing her companion around the apartment went they went out on the balcony to have a drink, where she climbed up to sit on the railing. Shortly after that, the railing buckled underneath her and Rosoff fell backward, landing on the construction scaffolding 15 floors below.

Rosoff was well-known in New York's advertising circles, having worked for Conde Nast magazines and Getty Images. A statement from her current employer said "She was a well-loved and highly respected member of our team. ... The entire company is distraught by the loss of Ms. Rosoff — she will be deeply missed."

The NYPD placed an evacuation order on the building's balconies, forbidding residents from going out on them until they can all be inspected, and investigators are looking to inspection and safety records for the building. A similar accident in 2010 lead to a city-wide review of apartment balconies that found several to be improperly inspected. Rosoff's date reportedly told police that the railing didn't look safe, but she told him that she had sat on it many times before and was not worried. Witnesses said the man was distraught and "hysterical" when he came downstairs shouting for help. Police also added they did not believe that alcohol was a factor in the accident.