At 10am EST this morning, Suzanne Hart was boarding an elevator when things went horribly wrong. The landmark office tower that houses the world renowned ad agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R) is located at 285 Madison Avenue, not far from Grand Central Station in NYC’s famed advertising row.
As Hart entered the elevator, the elevator began to move as the door also attempted to close. Two other people, a man and woman, were also in the elevator. Hart was dragged out of the elevator, into the elevator shaft. The elevator continued to rise, before falling rapidly and becoming stuck between the first and second floors, with Hart still trapped in elevator shaft.
A NYFD representative offered the following:
Her foot or her leg are heading into the elevator while the door is open. Her one foot is in the car; but then, the doors close on her leg and the elevator shoots upward. And she is just kind of yanked up with it. Then, the elevator car becomes pinned between the first and second floor. It seems like her body is what stops the elevator’s movement.
The physical trauma killed the 41 year old Hart, as the other two individuals looked on in helpless horror. Conflicting reports stated that the other elevator passengers were injured, though the representative from NYFD suggested they were admitted to a NYC hospital for observation due to the mental duress–that there were no physical injuries. As more details emerge, it has also been reported that Hart was an employee at Y&R.
Such a tragic accident, and straight out of a bad horror script. This type of thing isn’t supposed to happen in the 21st century. As isolated as it is, these are the reasons that so many possess a fear of elevators and their worst case scenarios.
Thoughts and prayers to the family of Suzanne Hart, as well as the women who were trapped in the elevator during this awful accident.
