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Woman Killed By Lift Was 'Carrying Heavy Box That Flicked Switch'

Woman Killed By Lift Was 'Carrying Heavy Box That Flicked Switch'

A safety report looking into the incident found that the lift didn't malfunction

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A woman who was crushed to death by a lift was said to be carrying a large box at the time which hit a switch and sent the lift crashing down.

Carrie O'Connor, a lecturer at Boston University, is reported to have been dragging the 2m, 36kg box into the lift when it plummeted to the first floor.

The 38-year-old's body was found in the lift following the incident which took place on 14 September at an apartment building in Boston in the US.

CBS

According to a report written by Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections Inspector, Martin Guiod, the lift didn't malfunction and the box had hit a switch that indicated that the door was closed, but it was not.

Inspector Martin Guiod said the death was a 'tragic convergence of circumstances'.

"Based upon my technical inspection, my investigation, and my observation of the video, there is no indication that any malfunction occurred with the elevator," he wrote in the report.

"It is my conclusion that the elevator was operating as designed."

A tenant at the apartment building told WCVB Boston: "It was horrifying. It wasn't a cry. I can't even describe what it was."

Talking about the incident, one resident told the Boston Globe Ms O'Connor had been talking to a man shortly before the incident.

Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Inspections

She said: "I heard it, he saw everything. He was helping her with a box into the building and he was going up the stairs, and he told her, 'hey, just be careful because it's an old-fashioned elevator'.'

She added: "I don't know what type of elevator it is, but you have to pull the door across and then step in and then press the button.

"He just said, 'oh, I don't think that's going to fit in there'. And then she's like, 'oh, I'll try it one more time'.

"And then I heard her screaming, and I heard him screaming.

CBS

"When I looked at the elevator, it was not there. Only the ceiling of the car was on my floor, so all the cables were there."

Another resident told Boston 25 News: "I heard someone that was bringing in a package out in the hallway, and then I heard an ungodly scream.

"Then we ran out into the hallway, and we saw a gentleman who was obviously in distress. He was screaming and hyperventilating, saying, 'She's dead! She's dead!'"

An autopsy found Ms O'Connor died from 'traumatic asphyxiation', according to Boston 25 News.

Featured Image Credit: CNN

Topics: US News