Chancellor Dan Rahn notified UAMS staff today that a mechanic performing maintenance on an elevator in the Central Building was killed when the elevator cab descended and trapped him. The cab was in a “normal cycle,” Rahn said, rather than free falling.
Killed was Brent Hutchins, 32, an employee of Schindler Elevators and Escalators, which is investigating. The Department of Labor, which licenses elevators, is also investigating.
Vice Chancellor Leslie Taylor said the man was trapped and presumably killed instantly. His body was found around 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m., Taylor said. She said there was no problem with the elevators in the Central Building, the oldest building on campus, which UAMS hopes to renovate with state money.
Rahn’s letter is on the jump.
Dear UAMS Family,
I have some extremely sad news to share with you. This morning Brent Hutchins, 32, an employee of Schindler Elevators & Escalators, was killed while performing routine maintenance on elevators in our Central Building. UAMS has a contract with Schindler under which we have two employees of their company working on site every day. Brent was under one of the elevators when the cab came down in the normal down cycle and struck him. The accident is being investigated by Schindler as well as by the Department of Labor, which licenses elevators.
I want to assure you that all of our elevators are safe, licensed and routinely inspected. This is a tragedy and I ask that you please keep Brent’s family and his co-workers in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Dan Rahn, M.D.
UAMS Chancellor