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WILKES-BARRE — A city man and his grandchild remain hospitalized with injuries they suffered in a fall down an elevator shaft Tuesday night at a building on Public Square.
The names of the victims are being withheld due to privacy laws. They are both residents of Bradford Street —the boy is age 6 and the grandfather is 66, according to a report filed by Damian A. Lendacky, assistant fire chief at the Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department.
Both victims were taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley’s trauma center and later the 6-year-old was flown to Geisinger in Danville, the report states. Hospital officials said the grandfather was in “serious” condition at Geisinger Wyoming Valley on Wednesday. They would not release the condition of the 6-year-old.
According to the fire department report, at approximately 8:21 p.m., fire and police units were dispatched to the building that houses Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce offices, Luzerne County Community College’s downtown Corporate Learning Center, some state offices, a legal firm, a cafe and other offices.
The report states a freight elevator had stalled with the grandfather and grandson inside. So, the grandfather opened the elevator door that opened to the parking lot side of the building. The Times Leader has learned that the grandfather worked in the building.
The report says the grandfather jumped from the elevator to the parking lot and the boy was supposed to follow, but instead he fell some 26 feet to the base of the elevator pit in the basement. Police, fire and emergency personnel then immobilized the child and removed him from the elevator pit. The boy was then transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley at approximately 8:36 p.m. The report states the boy was alert and conscious during the process.
The grandfather was injured when he jumped into the elevator pit to come to the aid of his grandson, according to firefighters.
The property is owned by Public Square Partners LP, according to Luzerne County property records.
The fire department report states Butch Hindmarsh, a representative of the building’s owner, was at the scene and he was advised to label the elevator “out of service.”
The state Department of Labor & Industry is also investigating the incident, according to city sources.
When reached Wednesday, Hindmarsh declined to comment “at this time.”