An elderly man named James Henderson, who was 78 years old, died after falling down an escalator at Westbrook Mall yesterday. This sad event is the third escalator-related death in the city this year. Security cameras showed that Mr. Henderson lost his balance while trying to hold onto the handrail. He fell backward and tumbled down about 20 steps, hurting his head badly and breaking several bones. Emergency workers arrived quickly but couldn’t save him.
After this accident, the mall is taking steps to make escalators safer. They’re adding more emergency stop buttons and improving security monitoring. Sarah Chen, a mall spokesperson, mentioned that the escalator was checked just two weeks before the accident, and everything was working fine. The mall has signs to help people, non-slip surfaces, and regular checks by trained workers.
Escalator accidents have become more common in the last few years, with a 27% increase reported nationwide. Older people make up a large part of these accidents, with 42% involving them. In response, train stations have improved safety features, like better lights and longer handrails.
Local police are investigating what happened to Mr. Henderson. They’ll look at camera footage, maintenance records, and talk to witnesses to see if more safety steps could have stopped the accident. Early information suggests that Mr. Henderson had balance problems which may have caused him to fall.
Mr. Henderson’s family has asked for privacy during this tough time. They want better safety for older people using escalators. His daughter, Patricia, is talking to mall management about starting special help programs for seniors.
The mall is planning to check all its escalators and elevators to make sure they’re safe. They’ll finish this review in the next two weeks. They also plan to start a volunteer service to help elderly shoppers move between floors safely by the end of the month.
