Elevator Accident in China Claims Life Of Teenager

Officials in southern China are investigating the death of a teenage girl who was killed when a suspected faulty elevator rose quickly and struck the top of the elevator shaft in May, Newsweek reported on May 26. A statement released by the office for industry and commerce in Zhanjiang said the passenger became trapped inside the elevator when it stopped between the first floor and basement level 1. The girl called a family member, and a maintenance worker was dispatched. As the worker began manually opening the doors, the car suddenly rose 30 floors, striking the top of the elevator shaft. The government office said a task force was formed to investigate the incident, which is believed to have occurred following a malfunction of the elevator’s braking mechanism. The maintenance worker was employed by a third party, and his attempts to open the elevator doors are not believed to have triggered the brake failure. The equipment has been in use since 2014. Local residents said malfunctions had occurred with the lifts, including unexplained stalling, but a serious incident had never been reported.