WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn — A 5-year-old Brooklyn boy trying to escape a stuck elevator plunged 10 stories to his death this morning in a Brooklyn housing project, police said.
The boy, Jacob Neuman, and his 8-year-old brother Israel were heading to school when the tragedy occurred just before 9 a.m. in the building, where residents complained of constant problems with the elevators.
More in the Extended Article.
R”L: 5-year-old Brooklyn Boy Dead in Elevator Shaft Plunge
WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn — A 5-year-old Brooklyn boy trying to escape a stuck elevator plunged 10 stories to his death this morning in a Brooklyn housing project, police said.
The boy, Jacob Neuman, and his 8-year-old brother Israel were heading to school when the tragedy occurred just before 9 a.m. in the building, where residents complained of constant problems with the elevators.
More in the Extended Article.
The elevator became stuck between the 10th and 11th floors just after the two boys climbed on board, police said. The older boy began pressing the elevator’s buttons, and the door opened.
The 5-year-old managed to squeeze through a small opening and jump to the 10th floor landing – but he lost his balance and tumbled down the shaft, police said.
The elevator doors then closed, trapping the older brother inside until building residents were able to free him.
The boys’ parents, who also have three daughters, were out shopping when the accident occurred in the Taylor Wythe Houses. Neighbors said the two boys were inseparable.
“He’s a very sweet little boy,” said Pessie Gelb, an 11th floor neighbor of the family. “We’re really going to miss him.”
Residents of the building at 70 Clymer St. said the elevators were often plagued with problems.
“All these elevators are past their useful life,” said Salomon Lieser, president of the tenants association.
“They were supposed to be overhauled a couple of years ago.”
Because his parents are Orothodox Jews, Jacob is being buried this afternoon.
The Buildings Department last inspected the development’s two elevators in October 2007, and rated them “unsatisfactory.”
NYCHA officials said they were pulling together records to determine what happened afterward.
Slideshow by Vos Iz Nieas
SR
very very sad news :(
My heart goes out o his family
oy baruch dayan haemes – so terrible!
oy
rachmana litzlan. hes so cute.
woman in ch
my heart bleeds for this poor family!!! baruch dayan haemes! moshiach now!!!!!!what a tragedy!!!!oyyyy its sick
me
I have one question. Why on earth are a 10 and 5 yr old boy alone without their parents? OKay they were going to school. But why alone. Why would the parents leave their sons at that young of an age alone!!?
moishy
Every parents and grandparents nightmare!
A beautiful boy lost for no reason.
I have 9 and it feels as if I just lost one of them.
If neglect caused this the person that is to blame should be found and punished.
Terrible!!
Shalom
Hashem Yirachem Alaynu!
Pained
So so sad, what a sweet little boy.
Annoyed
where are the parent’s in this case! I don’t understand why children are left to babysit one another! I don’t get it!
need moshiach
this is just terrible.
Ad Mosai!
why annoyed?
the parents are where ours were.. don’t know about you but i remember walking to and from school at seven years old all by myself with two younger siblings at the time.. that is once my parents saw we were okay and safe doing it.. true it is a different world today, yet not everywhere.. were you always escorted to and from school by your parents?
Annoyed at annoyed
To Annoyed and Moishy,,
Blame, blame , blame.. Do you walk your ten year old to school??? Did your mother walk you??? Most school children do walk alone to school and it is NOT neglect..This is a tradegy ..My heart goes out to the family..
To Annoyed
All you like to do is criticize? Do you think that’s what we need to hear, now? And besides, is it that terrible to let a 8 years old child in an elevator with his younger brother??? I don’t think so… Especially if they are used to it…
Sad
Stop blaming the parents.
ploni
Please, please Tatti. No more! Please.
this is too awful
This is just heart breaking, may Hashem give the family the strength to carry on.
We need Moshiach NOW
lets be doers not criticisers
hashem shomer dalsois yisroel, lets do mitzvos, tzedoka, mezuza, simcha, hodoyah. moshiach rightnow make a physical keili and check the safety of your windows, doors, cars, appliances big and small.
Rochel
wow, that’s so sad. May we never know of such things, May the family find Nechama.
(and to all those who critisized , that won’t bring him back, so why, why make it worse)
Hamakom yirachem…
Boruch ben Tzvi(A H) HaKohaine Hoffinger
B”H
Horror, pain and tears.
All my love for the family and friends.
Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.
Annoyed
First and foremost, yes i was escorted to and from school by an ADULT. Yes an adult you guys need to take off your glasses and see what is going on! There’s no reason why a five year old should be left to be watched by an eight year old kid! No matter what the situation might be and don’t lie to yourselves! School is about to start and take a look at the public school on crown street. All the children are escorted by ADULTS!!! In our community children are left with other children their age and that’s not responsible at all and I don’t care what all of you might think.
yankel.
This is very sad! This should not have happened! the owner of the building should have fixed the elevator! He should be brought to court for being neglegent by not fixing the elevator!he should be suid for millions of dollars!!!
out-of-towner
in these dark times before the complete revelation of moshiach, we all need to take extra care of our children. it’s a terrible world out there.
To annoyed: stop blaming others
To: Annoyed
Give up and stop trying to rationalize your out-of-place comment pertaining to this terrible tragedy. It is a human weakness to place blame when such a tragedy occurs and you , I am afraid, have succumbed.
My heart goes out to the parents and to his brother. This is a tragedy.
To Annoyed:
Annoyed, you are a sick and rational person. Have you no shame. How do you think the parents feel. Don’t you think they wish they did something different. But the truth is this was the will of Hashem, and nothing could change what happened. All we can do is daven that such a thing should not happen again!!! pointing fingers will not change anything. Shame on you!!!
Jenna
Hi Annoyed,
I am with you 100% on this. You do not allow an 8 year old and a 5 year old to get on an elevator alone, especially an elevator that has a bad history like this one did. I read somewhere that the father complained about the elevator a few months ago. If an adult was on the elevator, he would still be alive and thats the truth.
very annoyed at annoyed and jenna
dear jenna and annoyed
I think you’re both mean stupid idiots to place blame on anyone in a situation like this. the parents could’ve been home while the kids were in the elevator. you’re dumb and heartless for speaking this way in light of such a terrible tragedy. Shame on both of you!
Xinnia
This is so sad! I feel so sorry for the family
They should’ve fixed the elevator! The guy said it was supposed to be fixed years ago so why didn’t he fix it?
This is such a terrible tragedy, what an awful way to die!