Woman Dies After Falling From Balcony In Detroit
DETROIT (WWJ) - Police in Detroit say a woman has died after falling from a second story balcony on the city's west side early Wednesday morning.
Investigators say two women and a man were on the balcony at a duplex on Joy Road, west of Livernois, around 1:45 a.m. when 49-year-old Harriet Johnson stumbled and grabbed on to the railing for support.
The iron railing collapsed and Johnson fell 20 to 25 feet to the ground on to the concrete steps below, according to police. The other woman, a 34-year-old, tried to grab her, but ended up falling on top of Johnson.
Johnson was declared dead and the other woman was taken to the hospital where she was last listed in stable condition.
Latrice Brown, Johnson's niece, said the women were friends who worked together in the housekeeping department at the Marriott hotel in the Renaissance Center.
A friend and colleague who stops by every morning to make sure Johnson is up and ready for work was blindsided when she saw police cruisers surrounding Johnson's home.
"Oh lord, I can't believe it. She was very sweet, very, very, very sweet. No matter what you done, Harriet would have helped you," she said through tears.
Brown said Johnson leaves behind two children, eight grandchildren and many friends who will miss her dearly.
An investigation is ongoing.
Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com as this story develops.
