Man in critical condition after fall from Northampton parking garage

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NORTHAMPTON — A man fell from the downtown parking garage Friday night, and is in critical condition at Baystate Medical Center, according to police.

The man’s fall was reported about 7:30 p.m. when a passerby heard him hit the ground and, after seeing him, called police.

The man landed in the middle of Brewster Court near its intersection with Old South Street on the garage’s south side. Paramedics lifted him onto a stretcher and transported him to the Springfield hospital. Police are not releasing his name.

As police taped off the road where the man lay, crowds began to gather. Six witnesses stood beside the scene visibly shaken, but would not comment to a reporter about the incident. Police took statements at the scene and took the witnesses to the police station.

At least two other people have fallen to their deaths from the E. John Gare Garage, which is about 40 feet high.

In August 2009, Justin Hamilton of Florence jumped from the top level of the garage during a busy Friday afternoon. He was pronounced dead as soon as paramedics arrived.

In November 2007, Northampton resident Christopher Lee died after making a running jump off the garage.

Following Hamilton’s death police told the Gazette that the top level of the garage has a 5-foot-high wall surrounding it, which makes it difficult to fall or jump over.

At the time, police said Lee’s suicide in 2007 was the first in the garage’s 20-year history.