Ohio State Elevator Death

(Columbus, Ohio) Ohio State's Stradley Hall student residence has three elevators, two passenger and one freight, with a history of minor problems. Tragically, last Friday a problem with one elevator led to the death of student Andrew K. Polakowski, an 18-year-old freshman business major from Erie, Pennsylvania.

From The Columbus Dispatch:

Polakowski was with a group of students who got on the elevator when it stopped on the third floor about 11:30 p.m., said Rick Amweg, Ohio State University assistant chief of police.

For some reason, Polakowski decided to climb out of the car, whose doors remained open, Amweg said. As he did, the car dropped farther.

"He tried to get off, and he became pinned between the elevator and the building," Amweg said.

Although the doors remained open as the elevator moved down, police and state inspectors would not say whether the elevator had malfunctioned until they completed their investigations. Amweg said there was no indication of horseplay on the part of the students.

Columbus firefighters forced the elevator car up far enough to remove Polakowski. He was pronounced dead shortly before midnight.

Franklin County Coroner Brad Lewis believes Polakowski died from asphyxiation rather than injury.

State elevator inspectors will be on scene early Monday morning to continue the investigation of the incident. Hopefully they will discover why the elevators were allowed to continue operating with known problems.

Several students outside the residence hall yesterday said they had experienced minor problems with elevators in Stradley. Sixth-floor resident Jeremy Kopp said it was difficult to hold a door open with a hand or foot.

Alex Morando said he was stuck on an elevator two weeks ago for about 45 minutes.

This incident should not have happened. Condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Polakowski.