BROOKLYN — A NYCHA elevator mechanic was fatally electrocuted in a Coney Island Houses building Friday morning, according to officials, the same day the agency announced it was replacing its head of elevators following a deadly accident last December.
Elevator Mechanic Helper Igor Begun, 54, was shocked in the elevator machine room at 2926 W. 25th St. at about 11:23 a.m., according to the FDNY and sources.
A colleague who had been conducting maintenance on the elevator in the lobby found Begun unconscious in the machine room, sources said.
He was later pronounced dead on the scene, fire and police officials said.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Igor Begun, a 54-year-old NYCHA employee,” said NYCHA CEO and Chair Shola Olatoye in a statement. “As we await the Medical Examiner’s findings on the cause of this tragedy, we offer our condolences on behalf of the NYCHA community."
The NYPD said it was investigating Begun's death.
Director of Elevators Ken Buny was replaced Friday by Ivo Nikolic after a report by the city's Department of Investigation that found “numerous failures” in the agency’s elevator system.
NYCHA also announced additional safety procedures on Friday morning, including a new elevator brake monitoring protocol, better safety training to identify dangerous conditions and better reporting of elevator problems.
“These incidents undermine all of the improvements we are trying to make at NYCHA,” said NYCHA General Manager Michael Kelly in a statement. “Over the past year, I’ve worked with Chair Olatoye to change how the Authority does business and reset relationships with both employees and residents that have strained over the years."
