Ohio State student pinned & killed in elevator

An elevator in a campus dormitory where an Ohio State University student was pinned and killed has been sealed while state inspectors and police investigate.

Elevator inspectors from the state Department of Commerce will return Monday to continue looking into the death of Andrew Polakowski, 18, of Erie, Pa., said spokeswoman Denise Lee.

Polakowski was the last person in a group of students to enter the third-floor elevator Friday night when it unexpectedly began to descend with the doors open, said Rick Amweg, assistant chief of the campus police.

Polakowski, a freshman pre-business major, was pinned when he tried to escape through a gap between the top of the elevator and the third floor, police said. It was unclear if he jumped or tried to climb out, Amweg said.

Caress Russell, a third-floor resident, came upon Polakowski after he was pinned. She said she ran to the front desk to have someone call 911 when she saw him unconscious. A few students outside the dormitory on Saturday said they have had minor problems with the elevators in the building, Stradley Hall. Alex Morando said he was stuck on an elevator two weeks ago for about 45 minutes.

The dormitory has 11 floors and about 400 residents, Amweg said. It has two passenger elevators and a larger lift. Police and state inspectors would not say whether the elevator malfunctioned. Article here.