Woman dies in Calif. elevator accident

A woman died in an elevator accident Wednesday on the campus of Cal State University Long Beach, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.

The accident occurred on the 3rd floor of the Foundation Building, at Palo Verde Avenue and Anaheim Road sometime around 9:00 a.m., the Fire Department said.

The woman was apparently stuck in the elevator for some time. For reasons that are not yet clear, the doors of the elevator were wedged open between the 2nd and 3rd floors, the Fire Department said.

Read the original story on NBC Los Angeles

The woman tried to crawl out to the 3rd floor when the elevator, weighing over 2000lbs, moved, crushing her.

There have been no problems reported with the elevator in the past and it was up to code, according to Toni Beron, Associate VP of University Relations

In a statement, the university said it has "endured a terrible tragedy."

"I am very sad to inform you that this morning, due to an unfortunate incident at the Foundation Building, a member of our campus community has died. At this time, we are notifying family members and a complete investigation involving University Police and the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has been initiated," wrote Mary Stephens, vice president for administration and finance.

The University is in shock and has sent its "deepest condolences to the family," she said.

The identity of victim has not been released but it's not believed to be a student.

The front part of State University Drive was closed while officials investigated.

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Discuss this post

That is horrifying and terribly sad! I can't imagine how scared she was and now how much pain her family and friends are in - and right at Christmas. Just a horrible tragedy.

  • 7 votes
Reply#1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:12 PM EST

Just start screaming and get the fire department to come get you out of a stuck elevator.

Don't try to get out on your own !!

.

  • 4 votes
#1.1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:26 PM EST
Reply

Too bad she hadn't (apparently) watched "1,000 ways to die" on Spike. They covered this scenario. If you're stuck in an elevator, wait for help. DO NOT try to squeeze through the doors.

A horrific fate to endure... and frankly, an embarrassing one. The kind of thing that gets put on crappy cable tv shows and--oh wait. Never mind.

  • 5 votes
Reply#2 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:20 PM EST

How is is "embarrassing? Sounds horrific to me. Wouldn't have wanted to be the person(s) that found her. Talk about nightmares!

Condolences to family and friends.

  • 6 votes
#2.1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:07 PM EST

My first thoughts too. I saw this on tv already. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

  • 1 vote
#2.2 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:47 PM EST

She could have been claustrophobic...

    #2.3 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 7:20 PM EST
    Reply

    Sounds like from one of the cheat death movies!

      Reply#3 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:20 PM EST

      That's horrible. Fortunately, elevator accidents must be super rare - I don't remember ever reading about one before.

        Reply#4 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:30 PM EST

        Elevators are the safest transportation system ever, with a fatality rate well below any other transportation system, whether measured by number of passengers or even by passenger-miles. Still, accidents do happen.

          #4.1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:38 PM EST

          Yep, had she been smart and done nothing, she'd still be here.

            #4.2 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:13 PM EST
            Reply

            Worst nightmare!

              Reply#5 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:33 PM EST

              I've never forgotten about a maintenance man who stuck his head in elevator that was stuck in between floors and it dropped and took his head with it. I would never climb out of one that was stuck mid floor for exactly the reason that just befell that unlucky woman.

                Reply#6 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 5:57 PM EST

                This sucks !!!!

                Horrible way to die !!

                  Reply#7 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:09 PM EST

                  If I'm visualizing this correctly, the elevator was stuck between the 2d and 3d floors with the doors wedged open. Right? So basically standing in the elevator you could see both the second and third stories of the building divided by the actual building floor. I'm wondering why she didn't opt to jump down to the second floor rather than crawling up onto the 3d floor. Perhaps the gap between the actual floor (of the 3d floor) and the top of the elevator was bigger than the gap between the floor of the building and the floor of the elevator? Very sad.

                    Reply#8 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:13 PM EST

                    How truly terrible. I know her decision to climb out of the elevator was wrong but still.....how horrible. I'm a Cal. State Long Beach grad. and for this to happen to anyone on the campus is horrific. May this dear soul RIP.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#9 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:16 PM EST

                    Eeeeeeeesh.

                      Reply#10 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:29 PM EST

                      the worst way to die to is die stupid and have that as your epithet.

                        Reply#11 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:47 PM EST

                        You don't seem very intelligent. I wonder what will be yours.....

                        • 1 vote
                        #11.1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 11:24 PM EST

                        epithet - do you mean epitaph . . .. ?

                        Let's be careful about calling others stupid . . ..

                        • 2 votes
                        #11.2 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 12:02 AM EST

                        epithet - do you mean epitaph . . .. ?

                        Let's be careful about calling others stupid . . ..

                          #11.3 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 12:03 AM EST

                          carolart

                          If bad spelling makes you stupid than why do we hire elected officials that need proof readers and speach writers. and our news is also proof read to find these errors every day. instead i would like to think that stupid ideas and thought processes make someone stupid and not dislexia, typos and or a disregard for phonetical prowes. so go ahead and correct my bad spelling since you dont have anything intelligent to offer. gud bye :)

                            #11.4 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 7:34 AM EST
                            Reply

                            This makes me sad. was the call button not working? i don't get why she would wedge it open and then try to climb out unless it wasn't working properly and she was in there a very long time without help. poor thing. prayers going to her family and friends during this horrible time.

                              Reply#12 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 6:48 PM EST

                              Damn what a way to check out. I wonder how long she was stuck in the elevator. Looks like a Darwinian candidate.

                                Reply#13 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 10:50 PM EST

                                Troll...

                                  #13.1 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 11:27 PM EST

                                  Yes, but true.

                                    #13.2 - Wed Dec 7, 2011 11:39 PM EST
                                    Reply

                                    Not a very lifting story.

                                      Reply#14 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 12:33 AM EST

                                      Otis had a crush on her.

                                        Reply#15 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 1:11 AM EST

                                        i wonder how many times she sat watching a scary movie yelling at the screen "DONT CLIMB OUT!!! ITS GOING TO CUT YOU IN HALF!!" and of course when the actor sticks their head out we all know what happens next. lesson learned, patience is a virtue.

                                          Reply#16 - Thu Dec 8, 2011 7:39 AM EST
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