SUV plunges down NYC garage elevator shaft

(CBS News) NEW YORK - Two people were injured Tuesday after a luxury SUV plunged 40 feet down an elevator shaft at a parking garage on Manhattan's Upper East Side, CBS New York station WCBS-TV reports.

The incident happened around 9:45 a.m. at a garage in a building that also houses a Hertz Rent-a-Car.

A parking attendant at the garage, Steven Morales, drove the 4,500-pound Lexus SUV into the shaft on the fifth floor, falling several stories to the ground floor and landing upside down on its roof, authorities said.

A second attendant, Angel Rosa, was inside the elevator on the ground floor, according to New York Fire Department Chief Thomas LaPolla. Rosa said he thought a bomb went off when the SUV came crashing down.

"I fell from the impact when the elevator came down," Rosa said.

Rosa was helped out by other workers in the garage. Firefighters had to pull Morales from the car.

As Rosa left the scene, he was stopped by a representative from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He was interviewed about what happened.

Investigators are looking at a possible mechanical failure of the elevator doors, human error on the part of the attendant or an issue with the vehicle itself.

"It's just a freak accident that occurred," said Garage Attendants Union President Fred Alston. "These things happen. Could have been a gas pedal could have stuck or something to that effect because these guys are professionals. They know what they're doing when they get up there. It's not a game with them."

Both men were taken to New York Presbyterian-Cornell University Medical Center. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The Lexus SUV was yanked out of the elevator shaft and loaded onto a flatbed before being taken to a junkyard.

The Department of Buildings is also investigating. The elevator at the garage appears to have no violations on record.

[jscott418-21618367473133020464]

At first I wonder why the parking attendant did not see that the ramp was there in the elevator shaft. But then I realized your behind the wheel of a SUV and probably never thought it would not be there? Also once the front end falls into the shaft your really just going to take that ride. The weight of the front end with the motor and trans will pull you down. Its good everyone survived. Wonder if the bags went off?

[Mike_in_USA]

the way this article is written it sounds to me like another mean, big and bad SUV wnet nuts. the driver was just along for the ride. These mean SUV's must be stopped, they are out of control! Pity the poor drivers, it is not their fault, it's the SUV's fault, throw the book at them.

[DavidInMaine]

I hope Mittens doesn't go with that elevator company for his compound in California

[DavidInMaine]

oopsie

[chroniccomplainer]

I would check his text messages at 930-945 and blame the other party as well. Some of those SUV are hard to see out the rear window so he must have wished the elevator was there...

[Big-Daddy-Kahuna]

chroniccomplainer - great name. At least you are honest!

[rwichmann]

This is NYC. The elevator was used to haul cars and SUVs up and down to each floor to park. The elevator door didn't work properly and the driver assumed that the elevator was waiting for him when it was not.

I'm glad that no-one got hurt and that the SUV was totaled. :)

[enlightenu]

I can't figure out what happened the way this article is written. Did the vehicle drive into the shaft or was it in the elevator cab which came down? CBS has the worst writers.

[Yeah_Its_Me]

It appears the elevator doors didn't close, so the driver thought there was an elevator car waiting for him. Instead, he drove into a hole and landed on top of the elevator car several floors down.

[rightofwrong]

Not being from NY, I must be ignorant of how vehicle elevators work. Is there no door or gate or something to keep a truck out of the shaft when there is no elevator car there? Sounds like someone is liable for negligence.

[jscott418-21618367473133020464]

Well as anything in that part of the World. Its most likely very old. I don't think people realize how poorly things are being kept up these days. Tight budgets and stingy owners are probably to blame. Obviously some safety device either was not there or not working.

[woozybarnes]

Mr. Morales, you got some 'splainin' to doooo.

[Big-Daddy-Kahuna]

Yeah, to his attorney. Big bucks are on the way ... most likely due to his stupidity ....

[Epic_Fail_2011]

OK who ever added the line "The Lexus SUV was yanked out of the elevator shaft and loaded onto a flatbed before being taken to a junkyard." should be fired.

the car will be taken to a holding yard so the owner can collect their possessions and so the insurance company can come out and declare it totaled. Come on get a clue.