Photo: Scaffold tumbles, no injuries

Jun. 18, 2010 – (Above) A wooden structure of some kind, possibly a scaffold or barricade, landed safely on Dearborn Street Friday afternoon as a thunderstorm with strong winds roared through downtown Chicago. The National Weather Service was forecasting winds with gusts up to 80 miles per hour. (Click on image to view larger version.)

Nearby, a large piece of sheet metal landed after crashing into the Westin Chicago River North. According to west tower resident Charles McPhate, “it landed right in front a car that had to slam on its brakes to keep from getting hit as it fell.”

Around Marina City, there were no reports of injuries. Outside Daley Center, according to the Chicago Tribune, a woman was struck and injured by flying debris.

(Below) On about the 34th floor of the west tower, floor covering from a balcony has been ripped up by the wind and is hanging over the edge. Photo by Ryan Bauer-Walsh. Click on image to view larger version.