9 Injured in Broadway Theater Escalator Mishap

Nine people were hospitalized with minor injuries after an escalator malfunction at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, according to fire officials. The incident happened around 5:15 p.m. at 222 West 51st Street, the theater where the musical “Wicked” is performed, ABC7 New York reported, citing the FDNY. The FDNY said all of the injuries were minor. The New York City Department of Buildings is investigating, according to CBS New York. ### How did officials say the incident unfolded? PIX11, citing police officials, reported that a child’s shoelace got caught in the escalator while a group of children and at least one adult on a school trip was riding it at the theater. The station said an emergency stop button was pressed and the group fell over. Emergency Medical Services then responded and took nine patients with minor injuries to a local hospital, according to PIX11. (abc7ny.com) CBS New York reported a somewhat different injury count later Wednesday, saying 11 children and one adult were hurt at 5:12 p.m. and were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries. CBS, also citing police, said the escalator “suddenly jolted” and threw riders forward after a child’s shoelace got stuck. ABC7 New York separately reported that nine people were hospitalized with minor injuries. The discrepancy in totals had not been explained publicly by Thursday. (pix11.com) ### Where did it happen inside Broadway’s theater district? The Gershwin Theatre is at 222 West 51st Street in Manhattan, according to ABC7 New York. The venue is the Broadway home of “Wicked,” and theatergoers resumed lining up for the 7 p.m. performance a short time after the incident, CBS New York reported. CBS quoted witness Julia Wicke describing the aftermath outside the theater. “The escalator was shut down,” Wicke said, adding that people were walking up the stairs instead. (cbsnews.com) CBS said some children were placed on stretchers and others in wheelchairs before being taken to ambulances. ### What is the city agency looking at now? The New York City Department of Buildings will conduct an inspection following reports from first responders of an escalator incident that caused multiple injuries, PIX11 reported. (abc7ny.com) CBS New York also said the department was investigating. Neither report said by Thursday what defect, if any, inspectors had identified. New York City’s building code includes sections covering escalator maintenance, repair, replacement, testing and periodic inspections. (cbsnews.com) Those provisions appear in Appendix K of the city code, which incorporates standards for elevators and escalators. ### What do we know about the injuries? ABC7 New York reported that all nine people taken to hospitals suffered minor injuries, citing the FDNY. (pix11.com) PIX11, also citing authorities, said at least two children had hand and leg injuries and one adult had a hand injury. CBS New York said all of the injured were taken to area hospitals with minor injuries. (nyc.gov) The incident appears to have involved children on a school trip, according to PIX11 and CBS New York. Neither outlet identified the group or said which schools the children attended. ### What should readers watch for next? The Department of Buildings’ inspection is the next concrete step in the case, according to PIX11 and CBS New York. Any public findings on the escalator’s condition, violations or orders affecting its use would typically appear through New York City buildings records, which the department says are available through its public building-data systems. (abc7ny.com) (pix11.com)