Man narrowly avoids awning collapse at La Mirada Post Office

LA MIRADA, Calif. (KABC) -- Part of an exterior awning at the La Mirada Post Office collapsed Tuesday night, narrowly missing a man who had just dropped off his mail.

The collapse of the stucco awning above the front customer entrance at the 14901 Adelfa Dr. branch was likely due to age and deterioration, officials said.

Paul Verdugo had just come by the Post Office to drop off some mail. He heard a sound from above and decided to move safely into the parking lot about 30 seconds before the awning fell.

"I could hear it creaking," Verdugo said. "It was so odd. I was sitting at the bench, sorting through some mail. I ran, the roof came down. Luckily no one got hurt."

The front entrance was taped off, but the building itself was not red-tagged, officials said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said the public retail lobby remained closed Wednesday morning but was expected to reopen in the afternoon. Mail deliveries in the area were not affected.