Prosecution calls last witness at 'Black Sunday' trial

Jurors in the ?Black Sunday? trial heard an emotional testimony Thursday from another firefighter who survived the 2005 blaze that killed two of his co-workers. Eugene Stolowski says the injuries from

News 12 Staff

Feb 6, 2009, 1:53 AM

Updated 5,557 days ago

Share:

Prosecution calls last witness at 'Black Sunday' trial
Jurors in the ?Black Sunday? trial heard an emotional testimony Thursday from another firefighter who survived the 2005 blaze that killed two of his co-workers.
Eugene Stolowski says the injuries from the four-story fall still pain him every day. More than three years after the accident, the 37-year-old retired firefighter says he has difficulty walking and turning his head.
A fast-moving electrical fire quickly burned though the third-floor ceiling and spread to the fourth floor, incinerating walls. Stolowski says the flames completely blindsided him and the force of the heat threw him against the window.
"I went from standing in that apartment to jumping out that window in about two seconds," Stolowski said.
Prosecutors say tenants built an illegal partition inside their apartment, which blocked access to the fire escape, forcing Stolowski and five other firefighters to jump in an attempt to escape the blaze. Lt. Curtis Meyran and John Bellew did not survive the fall.
Fighting back tears at the witness stand, Stolowski recalled the moment before he and Meyran jumped out the window.
"We knew that this was it," he says. "And Meyran, at that point, he knew too."
Surviving 'Black Sunday' firefighter cross-examined Surviving firefighter testifies in 'Black Sunday' trial Jurors hear radio transmissions in 'Black Sunday' trialTestimony continues in 'Black Sunday' trial


More from News 12
1:49
Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

Human remains unearthed during drainage work in Putnam County

0:56
Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

Sunny for the rest of the workweek ahead before possible wet weekend in Hudson Valley

2:07
Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

Westchester County preps for President Joe Biden's visit

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

0:22
Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

Police: 29-year-old man dies after burning incident at Warwick Park

2:30
Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

Biden campaign reports blockbuster fundraising hauls ahead of visit

0:23
Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

Westchester DA: Ex-Mamaroneck library employee stole over $40,000 from library

0:42
Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

Yonkers Spano releases proposed budget for 2025

1:54
State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

State budget excludes aid for Orange County storm victims, lawmakers criticize Gov. Hochul

1:52
Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

Final negotiations on Carmel schools' budget linger late into the night

0:40
Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

Hochul: $33 million allocated to mental health in the state budget to expand services for felons

0:31
Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

Yonkers official calls for protection of city’s war memorial from graffiti, vandalism

2:07
​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

​Officials hope to implement noise cameras to combat loud noise from street racing in Greenburgh

0:36
Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

Police: Father pleads guilty to string of burglaries from 2022

0:28
President Biden's visit prompts early dismissals in Westchester schools

President Biden's visit prompts early dismissals in Westchester schools

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

Vote 2024: Ask your questions for Congressional District 16 Democratic candidates

0:31
Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

Mount St. Mary College welcomes new president

0:57
Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

1:49
Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

Proposal for Putnam County lithium-ion battery storage station raises concerns in Westchester

0:41
Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck

Fire destroys car, damages garage in Rhinebeck