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COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio State University student was killed after he was pinned by an elevator, authorities said.</p>
<p>Andrew Polakowski, 18, of Erie, Pa., was the last person in a group of students to enter the elevator on the third floor about 11:30 p.m. Friday when it unexpectedly began to descend with the doors open, said Rick Amweg, assistant chief of the campus police.
<p>My son lived in a very similiar dorm at the far end of the Ohio State campus this past summer. There was a lot of joking around about students damaging elevators--now we are reminded why they shouldn't.</p>
<p>What a horrible accident. Imagine the others in the elevator, trying to help, witnessing,... I don't understand how the safety features could have failed like that.</p>
<p>I think elevators get damaged when students goof around with them. My best friend from childhood's dad was an elevator repairman. He was disgusted that college students, who enjoyed privileges he never experienced, were always wrecking the elevators his company built so carefully. My friend reports that his dad was called to our alma mater on more repair calls than to all other places in town combined where elevators he was in charge of servicing were installed.</p>
<p>There was a tragic death a couple of years back in our state involving a young child and the type of elevator that has an outer door (like a gate) and an inner door. It sparked a critical review of how often elevators are inspected, etc. May not be related to this current tragedy, but it does sound as if malfunction may be part of it in this case as well.</p>