Just after midnight on New Year’s Day, a young man was crushed in a tragic elevator accident in Manhattan. The man was attending a New Year’s Eve party at an apartment on the 100 block of Broome Street on the Lower East Side when one of three elevators in the building began malfunctioning. The individual was caught between the car and the floor and crushed. Rescue crews arrived shortly thereafter but the man had already died.
Residents are in shock at the tragic loss of life but not that the elevator in question caused it. Indeed, residents have complained that on multiple occasions the elevator stops unexpectedly and “jumps” floors. Not only has the Tennant Association President been notified but, in fact, there are three outstanding Department of Building violations on the elevators in that Lower East Side high-rise.
This tragic elevator accident in New York City does have a brighter side though. 25-year old Stephen Hewett-Brown (a native of the Bronx) is being called a hero even after his tragic death. Witnesses say he was he was able to push away and save a young woman and a child from the falling elevator before they were crushed as well. The victim’s friend, Ejrio Omenih told reporters that selfless action showed Hewett-Brown’s character and that he hoped his family was taking some consolation in the fact that he saved two lives that night.
Elevator accidents in New York City are not common but when they do occur the results can be devastating and sometimes fatal. Poor maintenance, improper design, and failed safety procedures are often to blame for these tragic accidents. Misleveling and doors closing too quickly are signs of poor elevator maintenance. If you or a loved one has been injured by a malfunctioning lift, or if you’ve lost a loved one in such an accident, contact an expert New York City elevator accident attorney today. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.