Associated Press
TIJUANA, Mexico -- Two five-year-old children fell to their deaths today in an apparently malfunctioning elevator at Tijuana's Grand Hotel, state
authorities said.
The mother of one of the children, Alicia Barajas, 46, was hospitalized in stable condition with shock and broken bones, after she and family friend
Linda Rubio entered an elevator shaft whose car appears to have been detained at a higher floor.
The woman and girl fell almost 50 feet (15 meters) to the bottom of the shaft; the girl died instantly.
Barajas' son, Jonathan Card##as, somehow managed to hold onto the ledge of the door opening, but was crushed and practically decapitated when the
elevator car finally descended to the lobby level.
Authorities are still investigating the accident at the luxury hotel and have not yet filed any charges in the case, said Maria Teresa Valdez,
assistant attorney general of Baja California state.
"This was an unfortunate accident caused by a technical problem that was not repaired quickly enough," Valdez told reporters. "At this time, we cannot
say who was responsible."
Valdez said the hotel management -- which refused to comment to reporters on the case -- had apparently hired an independent contractor to maintain
the inspect the elevator.
The hotel is located adjacent to Tijuana's Plaza Agua Caliente mall.
Juan Gil, a doctor who runs a Spa and Oxygen Treatment Center at the Plaza Agua Caliente, said he saw the commotion at the elevators across from his
clinic and went out to help.
"I put on robe and went to see if I could help," Gil said. "Police told me there wasn't much I could do for the children. It took so long for them to
be rescued. It's really a tragedy." David K - 10-24-2004 at 06:53 PM
The doors to an elevator shaft do not 'just open' when the car is not there!
This is horrible beyond belief. The terror in the falling to ones death... then have the elevator car come down and crush you.
There will be more people to answer to this than just one technician.Dave - 10-24-2004 at 08:12 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hose A
The story in the Ensenda paper said the mother was so busy talking to her friend that she never noticed they were walking into space instead of the
elevator.
I've done that. Lots of us have. You never expect the doors to open unless the elevator is there. I have a friend who is an elevator tech. I'll ask
him how this could have happened. Dave - 10-24-2004 at 10:33 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hose A
Dave are you saying that you and lots of others have walked into an empty elevator shaft??
used to
be 6'4"...now 4'6".
BAD NEWS
Capt. George - 10-25-2004 at 05:04 AM
Ran away from the N.Y. Post (a small step above the Enquirer) and all the other hand ringing rags.......Por favor, no mas
malo news aqui!
