Prague police investigating negligence in case of man killed by fallen cornice

New details have emerged in the case of the fatal accident at Prague's Lazarská tram stop on Thursday when a man was killed by a fallen cornice, a piece of a building's facade that was dislodged during a thunderstorm.

The victim has been identified as a 46-year-old surgeon and father of three originally from Ukraine. Prague police are investigating the case as negligent homicide as they determine the circumstances surrounding the accident and who may be at fault.

The victim, identified as Vitaliy Slavnov, was waiting at a tram stop when fallen debris from the building's roof overhang pierced the top of the tram stop shelter and struck him. Despite immediate assistance from bystanders and emergency medical responders, Slavnov was pronounced dead at the scene.

"The case is being investigated for the crime of negligent homicide," Czech Police announced on social media on Friday. "Criminal investigators have now established the victim's identity and notified his family." 

The building, which was recently renovated, is owned by commercial health insurance company Pojišťovna VZP, which is a subsidiary of the Czech Republic's public General Health Insurance Company (VZP).

Authorities have confirmed that the building's condition and maintenance are under scrutiny. The Prague 1 Building Authority immediately took measures at the property to prevent further accidents, as firefighters dismantled about 100 kilograms of potentially unsafe material from the building's rooftop.

Adéla Anderson, a lawyer from Nest Legal, told Czech News Agency that responsibility for damages in cases where building parts fall due to defects or insufficient maintenance typically falls on the property owner.

However, the investigation will also explore whether recent renovation work might have contributed to the incident. Experts will assess the building's structural integrity and maintenance records to determine whether negligence played a role in the cornice's detachment.

"When assessing liability for a fatal injury, it will be necessary to find out what caused the ledge to separate," Adam Valíček, a legal expert from Valíček & Valíčková Law Firm, told Pražský deník.

"Since the building was recently reconstructed, the responsibility of the company that implemented the reconstruction cannot be excluded. It is therefore necessary to find out whether this tragic event occurred due to insufficient maintenance of the building, faulty reconstruction, or the effect of extraordinary weather."

Prague 1 Mayor Terezie Radoměřská expressed her condolences on social media, lamenting the death and praising the swift response of emergency services. She also noted that the Building Authority promptly responded by conducting a local inspection and enforcing necessary safety measures.

On Friday morning, two women visited the site to lay flowers and light candles in memory of the victim.