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Woman injured after elevator falls 4 floors in downtown Seattle

Woman injured after elevator falls 4 floors in downtown Seattle

Credit: KING / Travis Pittman

Woman injured after elevator falls 4 floors in downtown Seattle

by KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on August 3, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Updated Wednesday, Aug 3 at 11:07 AM

SEATTLE - One woman was injured Wednesday morning after an elevator fell four floors at the 5th and Yesler building in downtown Seattle.

Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore said the incident happened just after 7 a.m. The woman, reportedly in her 20s, was treated, but the extent of her injuries were not known.


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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 21

ShockedSeattle said on August 4, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Well, I can tell you this, there are several problems in the industry. Numerous buildings in the Seattle area are 2, 3 or more years behind on inspections. All the companies are running skeleton crews due to the terrible economy and pressure for profit. Service mechanics are overloaded with as many as 200 elevators/escalators on a single route but instead of performing inspections they really spend most of their time repairing them which is due to lack of service. There are many things that can often cause a elevator to stop but to fall is very rare, although, I have seen it happen if certain measurements are neglected. There are nearly a hundred mechanics out of work in this city and Seattle needs them all working. I will also tell you that I have spent thousands of hours in elevators and I-5 is by far the most dangerous event of my day. I can't believe the city is allowing the industry to put profit over our public safety!

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ShockedSeattle said on August 4, 2011 at 4:57 AM

also Otis fan

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waynecrankshaft0 said on August 4, 2011 at 1:49 AM

TOUGH ECONOMY, EVERYONE IS CUTTING BACK, TRYING TO SAVE MONEY, FIRST THINGS CUT ARE WHAT YOU DON'T SEE, ..... LIKE ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS AND MORE ..... LOOK FOR FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS FOR INSPECTIONS, .... REGARDLESS OF ELEVATOR MANUFACTURER, THE BUILDING WAS BUILT HERE, BY WORKERS HERE, .... "MADE IN U.S.A."

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elbegewa said on August 3, 2011 at 6:52 PM

Building owners are required to have inspections and service by elevator maintenance companies. Often (usually) those companies are unrelated to the original manufacturer. The real responsibilty for insuring elevator safety has been outsourced to those maintenance companies, not the state or city, and not the manufacturer.

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mowich said on August 3, 2011 at 6:22 PM

@firesoul It just doesn’t happen in movies, in 1945 a B-25 bomber slammed into the Empire State building in thick fog. One of the plane’s engines severed an elevator’s cable which fell 75 floors. Miraculously, when rescue personnel arrived they found both women still alive inside the elevator. 14 people died, mostly from the fire from the plane's fuel which engulfed four floors.

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Sir_Real said on August 3, 2011 at 5:58 PM

I know what that woman must have felt. I went on the tower of terror ride and I thought the breaks would never engage, but then they did.

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yourcountry1776 said on August 3, 2011 at 5:30 PM

How many stories is that building? Good thing it was only 4 floors.... Scary

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kak55 said on August 3, 2011 at 3:30 PM

That would be so terrifying. I really want more details before I get into an elevator again, especially with my kids.

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conservativegirl said on August 3, 2011 at 3:02 PM

More details please.

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janemckane said on August 3, 2011 at 1:35 PM

worst. effing. nightmare.

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bgeorge2 said on August 3, 2011 at 1:17 PM

This is the reason I have not gone in an elevator in 8 years.. Take the stairs...

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Rattler said on August 3, 2011 at 1:09 PM

Aren't the elevators supposed to be inspected by the city and certified? I want to know the name of the inspector... I could care less about who made it. Well, City of Seattle? Whose name is on the certificate?

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trixterra06 said on August 3, 2011 at 12:27 PM

She might have accidently hit the express button.

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cyrixlord said on August 3, 2011 at 12:24 PM

They should ban elevators from buildings!

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seattlemom said on August 3, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Being an Otis fan not all elevators in Seattle are Otis. There are cheaper makes out there. It would be good journalism to report on the make of the elevator!

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ss427 said on August 3, 2011 at 10:08 AM

I want to know how an elevator can even drop! When Otis invented them it wasn't suppose to be possible. They work safely because the lift cable holds the capsule by its brakes. Cable breaks=elevator brakes jam against wall. No dropee,, I want to know! King, please give more information. I'm like others here and thought this only happens in the movies.

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ballanty3comcas said on August 3, 2011 at 10:03 AM

Why in the world don't the maintance people check the elevators at least once a month????

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hatedit said on August 3, 2011 at 9:40 AM

ANother fine Martin Selig Building.lol

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snocoguy said on August 3, 2011 at 9:28 AM

Only 4 floors? On average that's a 40 foot fall. Even in an metal box you can be seriously injured. And I'm not a fan of lawyers, but if this malfunction was due to poor installation, pay the lady. She's gonna need the extra cash for all the pairs of shoes she wears through as she takes the stairs.

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maltbymike said on August 3, 2011 at 8:46 AM

The lawyers will relish the business.

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firesoul said on August 3, 2011 at 8:40 AM

Wow, how frightening. I thought this only happens in movies. It's very fortunate the elevator dropped only four floors.

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