Woman Tragically Killed in Elevator Mishap Yesterday Evening

Yesterday evening at approximately 17:12 hours Boston Fire Engine 41 and Ladder 14 were dispatched to a stalled elevator at 1140 Commonwealth Ave in Allston. At 17:19 Rescue 1 wasadded to the call and shortly after that the true scope of the incident became clear. At 17:21 hours Boston Fire Engine 41 upgraded the call to a technical rescue, with major trauma, requesting numerous units to the scene to assist with the rescue of a woman being crushed by an elevator.

Boston EMS was added to the call and Ambulance 9, a Paramedic Unit, Special Operations Tango 2, the Division Lieutenant and the Deputy Superintendent Shift Commander C8 all responded to the call. Once EMTs and Paramedics arrived on scene they immediately assessed the victim and it became clear, the woman, who we were able to find out from neighbors was just 38 years old, was non-viable, crushed to death between the elevator box, shaft and door.

Immediately, all efforts to rescue to woman stopped. It had now become a crime scene. Boston Police Officers from District D-14 immediately made full notifications, calling Districts Detectives, the Homicide Unit, Crime Scene Response, ISD, state inspectors and others to the scene. Once all assets arrived on scene they developed a plan of approach.

Homicide and District Detectives would conduct a preliminary investigation, CSRU would photograph and processes the scene, once that was finished Boston Fire with the assistance of Boston EMS would recover the woman’s body from the shaft and then transfer her corpse to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

After speaking with numerous witnesses and neighbors we learned that incident had actually been captured on camera. We were told by a woman from the building who did not want to be identified that the video intact shows the victims, who we are choosing to not identify at this time, attempting to load a large package that appeared to contain a bed frame into the apartment elevator.

A neighbor can be seen stopping to help and the victim and she was finally able to get the bed loaded, seconds later the elevator drops with out warning. The woman can be seen trapped with her torso twisted and trapped between floors. The same place responders would locate her and end up pronouncing her.

At this time the cause of the tragic accident is still unknown. Neighbors told us that the elevator, however old, seemed functional and reliable in their experience. Boston investigators informed us that the State Investigators oversaw the elevator and would be investigating the incident.

Once the family is notified we will release the victims information. As of now we can report that she had just recently moved into the building about a week ago. No further information is available at this time. Our thoughts are with the victims family and friends during this tragic time.