Tag Archives: death

NOPD Sergeant Re-indicted In K-9 Death By Elevator Shaft Fall

Posted on October 8, 2011 by peter

Following a most unusual elevator-related accident in 2009, a New Orleans Police Sergeant has been indicted on malfeasance after the death of his canine partner.

Phantom, an NOPD K-9, died when he plunged 17 stories down the hoistway of a vacant hospital building on May 21, 2009. Initially following the accident, Sgt. Randy Lewis, Phantom’s handler, claimed that he was working with Phantom in an on-duty training exercise at the time.

However, new information surfaced that Lewis was working a private paid detail with Phantom at the time. No information was available regarding the circumstances of the fall or the reason for the open hoistway.

Read the full story at WWL.com – NOPD Sergeant Re-indicted In K-9 Death

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Milwaukee Man Dies Trying To Escape Stuck Elevator

Posted on July 5, 2011 by peter

James Greiner, a 41-year old Milwaukee man, died Monday when he tried to escape a stuck elevator in a residential building. Greiner and his friend were at the building visiting a friend, who was not home, and decided to go to the roof to enjoy the view of fireworks.

When they went to ride the elevator back down, but the elevator became stuck. Grenier attempted to pry open the cab doors and discovered that the cab was stuck between the 12th and 13th floor. He then opened the 12th floor hoistway doors and attempted to jump out of the cab to the floor below, when he apparently lost his balance and fell backwards into the open hoistway below, falling approximately 118 feet. His friend called 911 and reported that he believed his friend fell down the shaft. First responders pronounced Grenier dead at the scene.

Residents at the building reported that the elevators were occasionally problematic, but inspection records show that the elevator had been inspected just two weeks prior. An autopsy is being performed to determine if there were other contributing factors.

Read the full story (and watch the news cast) on ABC 12 WISN

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Lawsuit filed in Dudley, MA toddler escalator death

Posted on June 11, 2011 by peter

In a wrongful-death complaint filed Wednesday in Worcester Superior Court, lawyers for Eric and Laura DiBona claim that the escalator at Sears “created a dangerous and defective condition” that violated state building codes, escalator safety standards and ASME standards.

Mark DiBona was at Sears with his family on March 11 when he fell from the second floor to the first through a 6-inch gap between the escalator and the adjacent balustrade. The gap was 2 inches wider than allowed under state building code, said Tom Smith, the family’s lawyer. Mark died of head injuries the following day.

Read the full story via Boston Herald – Parents sue over toddler’s escalator death

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Philadelphia man celebrating 25th birthday falls down elevator shaft, dies

Posted on June 5, 2011 by peter

Police say the victim was celebrating his birthday and had been drinking throughout the evening when he left his 5th floor apartment and tried to take an older elevator to the first floor to get more of his friends. He pulled the gate opened but the elevator wasn’t there. He stepped in and plunged four floors, landing on the top of the elevator.

Read the full story via ABC6 Action News, Philadelphia, PA

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