Police say a 63-year-old maintenance worker died when he fell to the bottom of a hotel elevator shaft in Superior, Wis.
The accident happened Tuesday evening at the Androy Hotel, authorities said. Hotel staff and other witnesses told police and medical staff that the elevator had been malfunctioning, and that the night maintenance worker was trying to fix it. He apparently used a key to open the elevator door and went through the open door, not realizing the elevator cart was above his floor.
Police say the worker fell about 15 to 20 feet to the basement. He died at the scene.
The name of the victim was not immediately released. Police are investigating the death and say government workplace safety officials also will investigate.
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August 16, 2017 08:37 PM
A 63-year-old man is dead after falling 20 feet down an elevator shaft, according to the Superior Fire Department.
Battalion Chief Scott Gordon said the man fell from the first floor to the basement at the Androy Hotel building on Tower Avenue in Superior. He was unconscious when crews arrived about 5:55 p.m.
Witnesses and hotel staff told authorities he was a maintenance worker attempting to fix a malfunctioning elevator. According to Superior Police Sergeant Rick Hughes, he did not realize the elevator cart was on the floor above him. Hughes said he stepped in the open door, and fell through to the basement.
Medics pronounced the man dead on the scene.
Superior Fire said they cut power to the elevator so they could get to the man. Medical personnel determind he was deceased.
Superior Police said they are classifying it "accidental," and OSHA has been notified and will investigate.
Gordon said the elevator "remains out of service" pending investigation.
The worker's name has not been released, pending family notification.
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The 63-year-old man who died Tuesday after falling down an elevator shaft at the Androy Hotel in Superior was a maintenance worker, authorities said Wednesday.
The Superior Police Department said in a news release that it is classifying the death as accidental, and that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been made aware of the incident and will be conducting an investigation.
The maintenance worker’s name was not released Wednesday, pending notification of the family.
Hotel staff and other witnesses told Superior police investigators that the elevator had been malfunctioning, police reported. The worker was trying to address the problem, police said, opening the door with a key to access the elevator and “not realizing that the elevator cart was above his floor.”
The man proceeded through the open door, falling into the basement about 15 to 20 feet below.
Officers, firefighters and medical staff responded to the hotel at 1213 Tower Avenue at about 6 p.m. Tuesday. The man was assessed by medical personnel and pronounced dead at the scene.
A message left with the owner of the Androy Hotel was not returned as of Wednesday evening.