Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Man Trapped Under Elevator in Washington Heights Building

By  Chelsia Rose Marcius and Paul DeBenedetto | August 16, 2012 10:31am | Updated on August 16, 2012 2:45pm

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — A building superintendent was found trapped under an elevator in a Washington Heights building Thursday morning, fire officials said.

The FDNY received a call about 8:45 a.m. about a man struck by an elevator at 602 W. 190th St., near St. Nicholas Avenue. When emergency responders arrived, they found the victim trapped beneath the elevator, a spokesman said.

The building's managing agent Bronstein Properties LLC identified the superintendent as Armando Bennett. He suffered head trauma and was taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition was not immediately known, officials said.

"All of my elevators are all up to date in relation to violations, testing and maintenance," said Bronstein spokesman Joe Masino. "I really don't know what happened. We're more concerned for Armando and his family at this point."

Beatrice Lopez, 61, of Washington Heights, who witnessed a man in her building suffer severe injuries in an elevator accident Aug. 16, 2012.
Beatrice Lopez, 61, of Washington Heights, who witnessed a man in her building suffer severe injuries in an elevator accident Aug. 16, 2012.
View Full Caption
DNAinfo/Chelsia Rose Marcius

"I don't allow my supers to go down the shaft," Masino added. "They should call the elevator company."

Beatrice Lopez, 61, said she was riding the elevator at 8:30 a.m. when the accident happened.

"Some lady knocked on the [elevator] door and said, 'Come out, come out!'" Lopez said, welling up with tears. "He was screaming. It was too much."

It was not immediately clear how Bennett became trapped or how he got into the shaft.

Tenants at the building recently filed complaints about the elevator, according to Department of Buildings records.

One tenant reported the elevator doors not opening on the top floor of the six-story building. Another said that the elevator didn't go to the fifth floor, and a pregnant woman reported having to take the stairs because of a broken lift, DOB records show.

No violations were issued for those incidents. It was not immediately clear if violations were issued Thursday.