Lottery Billboard Smashes BQE

A massive illegal billboard promoting the Mega Millions lottery came crashing down onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway on Friday.

Officials at the Department of Buildings say advertisements at the location are illegal. “It’s a miracle that nobody got hurt, because this is always busy, especially around 2 o'clock,” said one resident. “I ride my bike up Meeker Avenue all the time—warm, cold, whatever. So, I mean, I could have been right under that when it came down. So of course we're all lucky that there were no people,” said another. Residents say they've seen billboards in the neighborhood sway under high winds, especially during Irene. DOB officials say the city has been cracking down on illegal billboards since 2009, but it hasn't been easy since many are old enough to be exempt from new restrictions.