Glass panels fall from W Austin balconies, four injured

Two glass panels fell more than 20 stories from balconies of unoccupied units at W Austin Hotel & Residences, injuring four people when the glass landed in the hotel’s pool area.While the casuses of both accidents remain undetermined, a Starwood spokeswoman emphasizes that the two incidents are unrelated.It is unclear what caused the panels, located on the 24th and 25th floors, to fall on the evening of June 10. Hotel officials have assigned engineers to investigate the incident, and the pool area remains closed until further notice.The victims were treated for cuts and other injuries. The accident comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. On May 28, a woman was killed and her friend seriously injured after windows gave out at W Atlanta Midtown. LaShawna Threatt, 30, fell out of her 10th-floor guestroom to her death, sparking a pair of lawsuits filed by her family.While the casuses of both accidents remain undetermined, a Starwood spokeswoman emphasizes that the two incidents are unrelated.