House Painter Falls From 15-Foot Extension Ladder

Nine rescue workers swarmed Glenn Place, a small, dead-end drive in Hastings, today when a house painter fell from the top of a 15-foot aluminum extension ladder.

Israel Gonzalez, from Yonkers, has worked for Painting on Hudson for 18 years, but company owner Dan Spector says his employee has never experienced a fall like this before.

"Nobody actually saw him fall," Spector said. "But we heard it. From what he remembers, the ladder slipped and he fell off of it."

Ira and Edth Zimmerman, who hired the workmen to clean the brown shingles covering their home, were present when the accident occurred just before noon, and said rescue workers were on the scene immediately.

"Hastings police, Hastings fire department and Greenburgh EMS all came," Ira said. "The man was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla."  

Spector said he did not know the extent of Gonzalez' injuries. only that: "He seemed very banged up, but paramedics told us his blood pressure and vital signs were okay."

Although Gonzalez had been at the top of the ladder, there was a wooden deck about eight feet beneath him, which broke his fall.  

Edith Zimmerman tried to reach Gonzolez' wife at their home in Yonkers, but so far has been unable to get through.  

Spector, though clearly concerned about Gonzalez' condition, remained calm and in control of the situation.

"Falls are something we expect," he said. "This is an inherently risky business."

He then excused himself so he could head to the hospital to check up on Gonzalez.