NBC 6’s Dan Krauth reports on the elevator collapse at a North Miami Beach mall that injured a mother and daughter.
A mother and daughter were hospitalized after the elevator they were riding in collapsed at the 163rd Street Mall in northeast Miami-Dade Friday.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews responded to the Marshalls store at the mall at 1205 Northeast 163rd Street to rescue the woman and child, who are visiting from Venezuela.
Karen Velez, 29, and her 9-year-old daughter Luna Solares were taken to Jackson North Medical Center where they were bruised and shaken but expected to be okay.
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The NBC 6 Investigators uncovered reports Tuesday that show the elevator was last inspected two weeks ago. Records show its inspection was rejected. The NBC 6 Investigators are trying to uncover the reason why the elevator's inspection was rejected and why it was still running in the first place.
County inspectors were on the scene Tuesday investigating what went wrong.
After having back surgery Monday, Velez spoke about the scary incident. Speaking in Spanish she said that when she entered the elevator she heard a werid sound, like an explosion. That's when the elevator fell.
One witness said she heard what sounded like an explosion and then heard something fall hard.
Velez said she tried to hold on her to her daughter, but she said she couldn't feel her back.
The elevator dropped almost three floors down and trapped Velez and Solares inside. The doors were pried open and they were brought to safety.
"Our thoughts are with those injured today at the 163rd Street Mall. Shopper safety is always very important and we intend to fully cooperate with local authorities and mall management as this incident is investigated," read a statement from TJX Companies, which owns Marshalls.
State records show there are four elevators at the mall and only two of them passed their most recent inspection. It's unclear if the elevator that collapsed either passed or failed the inspection.
