A 41 year-old woman was pronounced dead this morning after a freak elevator accident killed her in a Manhattan office tower.

Reports show that she was stepping into the elevator on the first floor around 10 am when the elevator door suddenly closed and began to travel upwards, trapping her legs. Two people inside the elevator helplessly watched on as the woman was killed.

The two people inside the elevator car were taken to the hospital for trauma.

An investigation by the New York City Department of Buildings will be conducted to find out the cause of the elevator’s malfunction. An inspection conducted in June by the department found a defect in the elevator.

Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the victim.