Fashion model Tatyana Simanava nearly became a tragic fashion victim yesterday - stepping off the runway of a moving bus and tumbling out the door onto the Gowanus Expressway. The Russian stunner hit the pavement at 40 mph, smashing her arm, dislocating a shoulder, cutting her face and head - but somehow surviving the plunge. The statuesque blond beauty, who has been featured in ads for Garnier, Longchamp jewelry and David’s Bridal, only narrowly missed being hit by traffic or crushed by the bus itself.
“She’s lucky she wasn’t killed,” said a police source. “She could have easily gotten run over.” The 21-year-old model had been traveling to a Staten Island photo shoot with other members of international agency Next Models. She somehow got disoriented after stepping into a passageway outside the bathroom of the luxury bus.
“There was a door leading back inside the bus to her left, and one leading out of the bus to her right,” said a traffic cop at the scene. “I guess she got disoriented.” The bus, owned by Hoboken-based On Time Elite, is designed to be used as living space for models and movie stars on shoots. In place of rows of seats, the bus is fitted with changing rooms, a kitchen and an open living area - to where Simanava was trying to return. Instead, she plunged out a door on the driver’s side of the bus, narrowly avoiding being struck by the rear wheels of the vehicle.
If she had used the correct door, Simanava would have returned to the living area, where the other models were seated. Instead, she fell through the door by the bathroom On-Time Elite founder Linda Safir said yesterday, “Our hopes and our prayers are with this young woman and we are hoping that she is okay.”
She refused to comment about the accident. The bus driver initially refused comment when approached at his Staten Island home. After briefly emerging on his porch, he announced, “You can put anything in the paper you want.” Simanava was taken to Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn still conscious and speaking to paramedics.
Doctors there were evaluating her for internal injuries last night. Next Models, which has headquarters in Manhattan and Paris, is one of the world’s biggest agencies and represents some of the hottest talent, including Victoria’s Secret model Ana Beatriz Barros and Filippa Hamilton, the face of Ralph Lauren. A spokeswoman said yesterday she didn’t know any details about the accident and declined further comment.

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