Temporary wall tips over at Modesto mall, injuring 2 people

Bee Staff Reports

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A temporary wall at the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto tipped over about 4:50 p.m. today, striking two women. The victims received minor injuries, Modesto Fire Battalion Chief Hugo Patino said.

The wall is near the Orange Julius and Crazy Eight stores on the lower level of the two-story shopping center.

Paul Achterberg, manager of the nearby Jaden & Dean Jewelers, said he heard a loud bang. It was from the collapse of the plywood wall in front of an empty retail space where a new Foot Locker store is being built.

Modesto Bee - A construction worker secures the temporary wall of Kids Foot Locker and Foot Locker. A temporary wall at Vintage Faire Mall June 22, 2009 became unsecured and hit two women as it tipped over. They were taken by ambulance as a precautionary measure and were believed to have minor injuries according to on the fire dept. (DEBBIE NODA / dnoda@modbee.com)

A pole supporting the wall fell down, too, but shoppers propped it up until authorities arrived, Patino said. Firefighters were on scene this evening, investigating what happened.

Paramedics treated the injured women at the mall. As a precaution, they were taken by ambulance to a hospital for further examination.

The mall has been undergoing renovations for months as some retailers close -- notably anchor tenant Gottschalks department store -- and new tenants move in. Earlier today, mall officials announced that Swedish clothing retailer H&M will open a store in the mall in November.