PINE HILLS, Fla. – A woman suffered head, neck and back injuries Monday when a ceiling collapsed onto her while she was inside an Orange County restaurant, which remains open despite the incident, according to her family.
Dajah Stover was with her 2-year-old daughter when the incident happened at Flyers Wings and Grill in Pine Hills.
Stover was taken to a hospital due to the severity of her injuries, according to her father, who spoke with News 6 Community Correspondent Jarell Baker.
[OTHER ORANGE COUNTY NEWS: Family calls for safety changes after 77-year-old hurt when car slams into home]
“Her neck is hurting really bad, and her back. She had four staples put in her head,” said Torrance Stover, the father of Dajah Stover. “A 2-year-old seeing something like that happen, seeing her mom knocked to the ground and crying, blood everywhere — it’s definitely taking a toll on her."
He explained that his daughter has since returned to the hospital and that his granddaughter is traumatized.
Torrance Stover said the fact that the restaurant is still open is “neglectful.”
“I did go back in there, yeah, because they are still open for business, and I just saw they had that whole section blocked off. But the whole ceiling looks like it’s in the same condition,” he added.
Stover believes the restaurant should be closed until repairs are complete, although management claims the building has been cleared by the county to remain open.
“Are you worried about something like that happening to anyone else?” Baker asked him.
“Yes, I am. I would advise people not to go in there until all that is rectified,” he responded.
He also believes the entire ceiling should be replaced.
Baker visited the restaurant and saw the damage before asking the manager why the restaurant was still open.
In an email, managers with Flyers Wings and Grill provided the following message:
“We are deeply concerned about the incident that occurred at Flyers in which a section of the drop ceiling fell on a customer. Our immediate priority was to ensure that she received medical attention and that her child was safe. We wish her a speedy and full recovery. We take this matter very seriously and have brought in professionals to assess and make repairs. The building has been inspected by the Orange County building inspector and was cleared to continue operating whilst making repairs to the damaged section. We wish to create a safe environment for our great customers and staff.”
News 6 also asked management if that section had prior damage before the incident but has not heard back.
Baker also reached out to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to ask if it had inspected the restaurant, but he has not yet received a response.