Atlanta, GA – Two firefighters injured battling escalator blaze at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2013, around 5:30 a.m., while battling a blaze on an escalator that caught fire at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The fire broke out around 5:20 a.m., and was contained by 6:30 a.m., according to airport officials. Initial reports indicated that the firefighters may have slipped on water that was being used to fight the fire. At the time of writing there was no indication of what caused the escalator to catch fire, although NBC 11 Alive reported that officials believed the fire started in the escalator’s motor. Both firefighters were treated for their injuries at the scene. Continue reading

Denver, CO – Broncos fan severely injured after falling from escalator at Sports Authority Field

An adult male was severely injured on August 30, 2013, around 9:30p.m., when he apparently fell from an escalator at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. The stadium was hosting a pre-season game between the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals when the incident occurred. Denver police released few details about the man, the extent of his injuries, or whether alcohol may have been a factor. However police did confirm that they were investigating the incident as an accident, and that the victim was conscious and breathing when he was transported to a nearby hospital after suffering serious injuries from his fall. ABC7, The Denver Channel, reported that eyewitnesses stated that the man may have suffered from a medical condition which caused him to lose his balance. Continue reading

Paramus, NJ – 8 year-old girl suffers severe injuries after leg entrapped in Garden State Plaza escalator

An 8-year-old girl was severely injured after her leg became entrapped by an escalator at the Westfield Garden State Plaza, located in Paramus, New Jersey, around 11:45 a.m. on the morning of Friday, August 16, 2013. The girl and her mother boarded the escalator on the lower level, headed towards the first floor. As they reached the top landing, the girl’s right foot apparently became entrapped between two steps, subsequently causing her leg to become entrapped as well. A nearby bystander reacted quickly and activated the emergency stop switch, which stopped the escalator, but the girl remained entrapped for some time until fire, police, and nearby bystanders were able to disassemble the landing to free the girl. Continue reading

Harlem, NY – Woman suffers seizure on escalator, injured after hair became entrapped

A 32-year old woman was injured on July 3, 2013, around 3:30 p.m., after she passed out on an escalator at the subway station at 125th Street and Broadway in Harlem, NY. The victim apparently suffered a seizure and lost consciousness before dropping to the still-moving steps, at which point her hair became entrapped between the steps, causing her to lose a significant amount of hair and possibly a portion of her scalp. Emergency medical technicians were able to free the woman upon arrival. The victim also suffered cuts to her face, legs, and arms, and was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital for further treatment. Continue reading

Duluth, MN – 4 small children, 1 woman injured in escalator pileup

Four young children and woman suffered injuries on Wednesday, June 26, 2013, around 1:05 p.m., after an escalator accident occurred at the Wells Fargo building in downtown Duluth, Minnesota. According to local news reports, a group of 20 children and their daycare providers boarded the escalator traveling downwards. One of the children was apparently afraid to step off the escalator, creating a pileup behind them. Further complicating the situation, the children were apparently tied together or otherwise connected to a rope, causing a “chain reaction” when the pileup began. One of the children suffered a severe ankle injury; the remaining four were treated for minor cuts and bruises. Continue reading

San Antonio, TX – 20 injured after convention center escalator suddenly reverses, dumps passengers

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, around 1 p.m., approximately 20 people suffered mostly minor injuries when an escalator at Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas, malfunctioned and suddenly reversed direction uncontrollably, causing passengers to be dumped at the bottom landing. Fourteen of the victims were hospitalized; the remaining six were treated at the scene. The convention center was hosting a group of Dish Network employees at the time of the incident. Continue reading

Schaumburg, IL – Three elderly victims suffer minor injuries in escalator mishap

According to the Chicago Tribune, two women and one man, all in their 80s, suffered cuts and abrasions during an escalator accident that occurred at 11:08 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2013 in the Nordstrom department store at the Woodfield Mall. For an unknown reason, not currently attributed to any mechanical malfunction, the male victim started to fall and attempted to grab his wife to regain his balance. Unfortunately, his wife then fell and toppled onto the third victim. Continue reading

Upper West Side, NY – One-year old boy trips, get hand stuck in escalator

According to WABC 7 Eyewitness News, a 21-month old boy got his hand stuck between two steps in an escalator after he tripped and fell around 10:48a.m., Friday, February 22, 2013. The boy was riding with an adult on the escalator, located inside a Barnes & Noble bookstore at the corner of Broadway and 82nd Street when the incident occurred. According to an unnamed employee, the escalator automatically stopped shortly after the boy’s hand became entrapped. The boy was able to free himself shortly thereafter. Firefighters arrived and treated the boy at the scene for a hand laceration. Continue reading

Atlanta, GA – Worker gets ladder, foot trapped in mall escalator

According to WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta, a sprinkler technician was injured around 10 a.m., Thursday, February 21, 2013, when a ladder he was carrying became wedged in an escalator, creating a gap wide enough for his foot to enter and become entrapped. The man and a partner were transporting the ladder from the P2 level to the P3 level when the ladder became wedged between two of the steps, creating a gap between the step and the skirt panel. The victim’s foot was entrapped in the escalator’s skirt for approximately one hour, until fire fighters responded and used heavy equipment and a “cribbing” technique to provide a gap wide enough to allow the man’s foot to be pulled back out. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital. Continue reading

Jersey City, NJ – Malfunctioning PATH escalator runs backwards, injuring six

Multiple news sources are reporting that at around 9 a.m. Monday, January 7, 2013, an escalator at the Exchange Place PATH station malfunctioned while numerous commuters were on board, leading to several injuries. The incident, which was partially caught on video and posted to YouTube (full story includes video), depicts one of the station’s escalators, which was running upwards, suddenly reversed direction, as passengers piled up at the bottom and others tried to walk upwards to avoid getting dumped at the bottom landing. At least one man in the video appeared to have jumped on and clung to the balustrade between the escalators. Between four and six victims suffered mostly minor injuries such as cuts and bruises, although at least one victim was hospitalized. Continue reading