Elevator Repair Worker Dies In Fall Down Shaft At NJ Building
GUTTENBERG, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An elevator repair worker died after he fell down a shaft at a building in northern New Jersey, according to authorities.
It happened around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Galaxy Towers on Kennedy Boulevard in Guttenberg, Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Leni Fortson said.
Police could be seen outside the condominium complex, which is composed of three octagonal towers that each rise 415 feet over the banks of the Hudson River.
Tenants told CBS2 an announcement came over the speaker system, notifying them of the incident.
"That the elevators were out of order and an accident happened so please do not use the elevator," tenant Jaime Llado told CBS2's Dave Carlin.
"I walked down from the 32nd floor," tenant Ryan Forman said. "The elevators they sometimes are malfunctioning but most of them are renovated, they're all new elevators so something like this is kind of unfathomable."
Forman's neighbor, who did not want to give her name, told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond that the elevators were installed in 2013.
"Brand new elevators, four per building," she said. "The worst part of this is the lack of information from management; that upsets residents, it scares residents, it makes rumors happen so we would like the truth from the beginning."
The investigation inside the building made usually simple tasks, like walking dogs, challenging for Audrey Tanz.
"It's really a tragedy," Tanz told CBS2's David Carlin.
The worker's name and the circumstances of the accident have not been released.
OSHA said the worker was employed by Slade Elevator, which has offices in Mountainside and New York City.
Slade released a limited statement, saying they are mourning the loss of their employee and are offering condolences to the worker's loved ones, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of our employee involved in the accident," the company said in a statement released Tuesday. "The cause of the accident is not yet known, and company experts are working with local authorities to determine what happened."
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