At least 15 hurt in building collapse

Newsday
Jul. 10, 2006

At least 15 people were hurt after an apparent gas blast -- possibly triggered by a suicidal doctor going through a nasty divorce -- brought down a four-story Upper East Side building today, city officials said.

Authorities were investigating the possibility that the morning explosion at 34 East 62nd Street, between Madison and Park avenues, was the result of a suicide attempt by Dr. Nicholas Bartha. "We're still investigating that, talking about the potential for suicide. So that's a distinct possibility," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said.

Polly Passonneau, a lawyer for Bartha's wife, reportedly contacted police recently saying she had received an e-mail in which the physician indicated he was contemplating suicide.

A police official with direct knowledge of the case told The Associated Press that the rambling e-mail included the line, "You will be transformed from gold digger to ash and rubble digger." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

The doctor was being forced to sell the building because of the divorce, and authorities believe that the explosion may be related to a suicide attempt involving gas, officials said. Court records show that he faced a $4 million lien as a result of the case.

Court records also paint the picture of a nasty dispute that dragged on for five years. In a petition filed this year by Cordula Bartha, she hinted at looming troubles and asked that deputies remove Nicholas Bartha from the residence. "I have no doubt that (Nicholas Bartha) will ensconce himself in the marital residence and refuse to leave it after the auction is held. He has said many times that he intends to 'die in my house."'

A message seeking comment from the lawyer for Nicholas Bartha was not immediately returned. Attorneys for 64-year-old Cordula Bartha issued a statement: "Ms. Bartha cannot at this time withstand the additional burden of the media microscope on this personal tragedy. Ms. Bartha and her family are deeply saddened and terribly upset by today's occurrence."

Alan A. Winter, a former building tenant, said Bartha was "absolutely despondent about the breakup of his marriage." Winter said he moved out on May 30 because Bartha became difficult to deal with. "Everything bothered him. Life bothered him."

Bartha, the only person inside when the blast occurred, was pulled from the rubble after communicating with authorities from his phone in the wreckage, Scoppetta said. He was among at least 15 injured, including 10 firefighters battling the blaze that erupted at about 8:40 a.m.

Ten firefighters and five civilians, including two seriously injured, were treated at area hospitals and at the scene.

At least nine patients were being treated at New York Presbyterian Hospital, a spokesman there said. He did not release any specific information about the victims.

The building housed Bartha's office and his apartment, in addition to another medical office, records show. The blaze had intensified to five alarms around 10:20 a.m. with 44 units and nearly 200 firefighters on the scene.

NYPD spokesman Lieutenant Gene White said the medical offices opened at 9 a.m., so there likely were no patients yet in the building at the time of the explosion.

Witnesses described hearing a large explosion before the collapse.

"The building rocked and settled again, and the street was filled with dust," said John McGee, 45, who was on the 8th floor at nearby 40 East 62nd St. at the time of the explosion. "As dust cleared, then the smokes and flames were evident."

"The building just blew up," said Yaakov Kermaier, 36, who was across the street from the explosion after returning from synagogue services.

"I ran in to get the baby and the nanny." They were not injured, Kermaier said.

The explosion and fire created a horrific scene in the neighborhood, sustaining enough force to blast out windows in a building across the street. Buildings on both sides of the collapsed structure were evacuated, sending crowds of residents into the street.

Heavy black smoke rose high above the building, wedged between taller structures on East 62nd Street. Gass and splintered wood was littered across the block.

Con-Edison crews were seen after the blast barricading manholes and sending teams down at the corner of Madison Avenue and 62nd Street.

"We received a call about an odor of gas at 36 East 62nd Street," said Con-Edison spokesman said Joe Petta. He could not immediately say when or from where the call came, or if it came to 911 or the ConEd hotline. "Our mechanic responded and while he was there investigating, an explosion occurred at the building next door."

Guillermo Cowley, 50, was talking on the telephone in his apartment on East 62nd Street closer to Park Avenue when he heard the blast. He ignored the boom until he turned on the television and saw his neighborhood on the screen.

His first thought was a terror attack. "This is the center of the universe right here," he said, holding a small white poodle as he spoke to reporters.

Several streets in the affected area were closed, affecting city bus service. The uptown M1, M2, M3, M4, M30, M66, M72 and Q32 bus lines were diverted to Third Avenue from 56th Street to 65th Street. Subway service was not affected.