Sam Waisbren Killed In Manhattan After Being Crushed By An Elevator

A 30-year-old man was killed in a horrific elevator accident in a Manhattan high rise Thursday morning after he became trapped as the car shifted while he attempted to exit.

Sam Waisbren was exiting the cart into the lobby when the elevator seemingly dropped, trapping Waisbren in the elevator shaft between the first floor and basement. Surveillance footage showed the man struggling to get out, but was ultimately crushed to death by the heavy weight.

Though six other people were on the elevator, they reported no injuries.

Officers and the FDNY rushed to the scene for the rescue and began taking apart the elevator to try and save the man but, it was too late.

#FDNY members are operating on scene at 3rd Avenue and East 25 Street in Manhattan for a confined space incident. pic.twitter.com/YcgdYKEcrm

— FDNY (@FDNY) August 22, 2019

This incident has gained intense media attention, sparking fear of people using elevators in Manhattan and across the country. The New York City Department of Buildings said in a statement to NBC New York that it is “investigating this incident aggressively and will take all appropriate enforcement actions.”

According to the department they claim, elevators are the safest form of travel in New York, due to the city’s stringent inspection and safety requirements” and they’re “determined to find out what went wrong at this building and seek ways to prevent incidents like this.”