Woman died after two-tonne brick pallet fell on her in east London
Michaela Boor, 28, died after a pallet carrying more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane and struck her as she walked home from the shops after the school run in east London. The trial at the Old Bailey is examining whether the building contractor and four people involved in the project failed in their duties, with the case highlighting the safety risks posed by lifting work beside public pavements.
The incident happened on Burdett Road, Bow, on 27 March 2018, while Boor was walking with Chelsea Mustafa; Mustafa was struck by some bricks but escaped the main load. Boor suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died in hospital on 29 March. Higgins Homes faces corporate manslaughter and health and safety charges, while four construction workers face gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety charges; the article says charges were authorised in May 2025 after investigations by the Health and Safety Executive and Metropolitan Police.
- A falling brick load killed Michaela Boor during the school run.
- Higgins Homes and four workers are on trial.
- The case concerns crane operations beside a public pavement.
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Michaela Boor, 28, died in March 2018 after a pallet carrying more than two tonnes of bricks fell from a crane whilst she was walking home in east London. The pallet struck her as she passed underneath a building site on Burdett Road in Bow. She suffered catastrophic brain injuries and died two days later in hospital; a companion, Chelsea Mustafa, was struck by some bricks but survived.
A building contractor, Higgins Homes, and four construction workers are now on trial at the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court. The contractor faces corporate manslaughter and health and safety charges, whilst the four workers face charges of gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety breaches. Charges were authorised in May 2025 following investigations by the Health and Safety Executive and Metropolitan Police.
The trial will examine whether the building contractor and workers failed to discharge their legal duty of care when conducting lifting operations close to a public pavement. The incident occurred during normal business hours whilst Boor was engaged in everyday activities, returning from the school run. The case will look at the safety measures that should have been in place to protect pedestrians from the risks of falling objects during construction work.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Mother was crushed to death by pile of bricks on the school run as she walked past building site, court told”.