Elevator Crash Baffles Investigators

Investigators are trying to figure out what caused an elevator locked in place to go into freefall and crush a 45-year-old technician working at the TradeWinds Resort Hotel. (See original post.)

WTSP.com reports that technician Mark Johnson probably never realized that the elevator was falling in the moments before it crashed. He had been working in the shaft for about 40 minutes prior to the accident.

Johnson was cleaning out oil at the base of the elevator shaft when the accident occurred on Wednesday, April 24.

According to WTSP.com:
"The elevator was locked. Protocol had been taken, from what I'm told, to make sure that no one could access the elevator while work was going on. And it's under investigation as to how the elevator fell," said Pinellas County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Cristen Rensel.

Johnson was employed by SWS Environmental Services, which described his work as outstanding.

The CEO of TradeWinds told WTSP.com that all the elevators on the property had just passed inspection.

"Our hearts go out to the Johnson family. We feel so heartbroken for them. We don't know what went wrong," said Keith Overton, the Chief Executive Officer.

More coverage

 Man Crushed in Elevator Accident

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