By Checkey Beckford —
NBC New York
A woman in her 70s opened the elevator door of her building in New Jersey and, upon entering, rushed down the shaft because the elevator was not there.
The victim fell from the first floor, and the little granddaughter whom he had just picked up from school stared with wide eyes.
Caution tape blocks the entrance to the elevator on Tuesday.NBC New York
She was trapped, and neighbors said they could hear her panicked screams.
Brandon Rennick and his cousin ran to help, first securing the child,
who was still safe on the first floor.
Jersey City firefighters also responded.
The woman was hospitalized with serious injuries, including a broken elbow and a tear in her stomach, her daughter and a neighbor reported late Tuesday.
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It is unclear what went wrong with the elevator.
Caution tape was seen blocking the entrance to it on Tuesday.
Neighbors of the building claim that the elevator problem is just the tip of the iceberg of
a series of serious defects in the place.
Edwin Perdomo, who lives with the victim's daughter, indicated that his apartment is plagued by mold, leaks and flies.
Furthermore, he assured that he has complained repeatedly and that nothing has been done to solve the problems.
“People complain about problems from the day they move in and nothing is ever done,” Perdomo said.
“There have been people with stories about this elevator getting stuck.”
The building is managed by Cross County Management.
No one from the company answered the phone late Tuesday.
A neighbor noted that management went to the building after the accident and a meeting with residents is scheduled for later this week.