Man dies after falling down elevator shaft

A man died on Tuesday after falling two stories down an elevator shaft at a northwestern Pennsylvania business, authorities said.

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According to the City of Erie Fire Department, a man fell two stories in an elevator shaft at Andy’s Equipment Exchange, located at 959 W. 12th St. in Erie, WJET-TV reported.

The accident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. EDT. Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook confirmed the man was dead at the scene, according to the television station. Cook described the victim as a 71-year-old man who was pronounced dead shortly after 5 p.m.

Cook said the elevator was on the third floor of the building when the man fell from the second floor into the basement, WJET reported. The man’s name has not been released pending notification of next-of-kin. The door was open to the industrial elevator shaft, WICU-TV reported.

According to its Facebook page , Andy’s Equipment Exchange is a commercial food service restaurant equipment company that opened for business in 1987.

No other details were available, WICU reported. Investigators are treating the death as an accident, according to the television station.

An investigation is ongoing.