Suzanne Hart, 41, was crushed to death on Wednesday morning when the elevator she was entering at 285 Madison Avenue moved upward without warning, pinning her in the gap between the hoistway wall and the elevator cab, crushing her lower body between the first and second floors, as two passengers looked on. They received treatment for psychological trauma. The aftermath of the impact was so severe it caused engineers to shut down the entire building due to structural concerns.
The New York City Department of Buildings is investigating the incident, and stated that electrical work that morning by the elevator contractor had become the focus of the investigation.
Read the full story: Elevator Was Serviced Just Before Accident – NY Times, Elevator Work Under Review, Investigators Seek Cause of Accident That Killed Woman – Wall Street Journal