Photos by Benjamin Kanter.
A 30-year-old mechanic working on an elevator at 75 West End Avenue was crushed around 11:20 a.m. Friday when an elevator suddenly descended onto him, fire officials told the media. The mechanic was working between the first floor and the basement when the elevator car began descending from about three stories above him.
It’s not clear why the elevator descended suddenly. The man’s name was not released on Friday.
One resident said she had talked to the man the day before and that he was sweet and funny. Residents in the elevator block where the tragedy occurred were nit let back into their apartments for several hours as they retrieved the man’s body. Fire officials let them walk up the stairs to their homes at about 4 p.m.
Photos below and reporting by Tessa Abrahams.
Workers stood in front of the elevator bank.
So horrible. Thoughts are with his family.
Poor guy, that sucks
This is so tragic. Condolences to his family.
I assume this triggers investigations by OSHA… and maybe Department of Buildings? Basically same level of investigation as the freak elevator accident in midtown a couple years ago, where an advertising executive was killed.
Thanks WSR for reporting on this.
I was in the building when it happened. Lots of people we’re shaken up. The elevators stopped running after the incident so people in the River tower had to walk up the 30 flights of stairs. It was closed off for maybe 2-3 hours. The elevators where actually being fully “modernized” according to the building. If you ask any resident the elevator issue is the biggest joke about the otherwise excellent building.
This kind, quiet, family (young) man and his family live in my building in Astoria. I saw the candles in our court yard but didn’t connect the incident.
I am so very sad for the family he left behind, as well as our little community, for this loss. Be gentle with yourselves and others. Our lives are so very fragile.
I am happy that I got to have him for a neighbor.
Rip johhny, he wasn’t just a freind he was our patriarch. He taught how to drive he taught us how to box. He taught us how to be nice he taught us, how to be men. Rip Johnny