Harbor Freight ceiling collapses, woman hospitalized

The ceiling in front of the entrance of a Harbor Freight collapsed in North Fort Myers, putting a woman in the hospital.

According to witnesses, the ceiling came down like a wave, collapsing in seconds, Tuesday afternoon. The ceiling pierced through the guardian barrier of the store.

A woman walked out of the store at the wrong time, as the debris fell on top of her. Three men lifted up the ruins to get her out. The debris missed the woman’s husband and child, who were just a few feet in front of her.

According to the woman’s brother, she is in the hospital with two breaks in her leg. Her husband and child are OK.

Witnesses said they heard a bang from inside, outside and next door to Harbor Freight, as the structure came down.

“We heard the whole thing collapse. Me and my coworker, we turned around. We didn’t hear anything at first, and then we started hearing this lady scream. We ran over and started to pick it up,” said Luke Romano, one of the three men who helped lift the roof off the woman. “Her right leg was trapped under the thing. Thankfully, it didn’t land all the way on top of her. She was in pain. She was screaming, but I think it might just be a leg injury. They took her in the ambulance.”

Another man who helped lift the debris off the woman said it took at least five minutes for them to lift the debris and get her out.

WINK News learned that the ceiling was damaged during Hurricane Ian, fixed and inspected in May, 2023. WINK News contacted the roofing company, but they cannot say how this happened.

This is a developing story and WINK News will update this article with more information as it is found.