An elevator that frequently malfunctions led to a tragic incident in Brooklyn, where an 81-year-old man fell to his death while trying to navigate the roof of his apartment building. The man, named Everett Goldberg, was found unresponsive on the rooftop of 3310 Avenue H in Flatlands just before 10 a.m. on Saturday. He had been attempting to carry groceries across the roof because the elevator on his side of the building was out of service.
“If you live on the top floor, it’s easier to use the elevator on the other side, cross over to the roof, and come down,” said neighbor Luis Irizarry. He pointed out that this method usually works fine in milder weather, but, with the recent freezing temperatures and snowfall, it had become perilous. “All the snow has turned to ice,” he noted.
As of now, police haven’t determined the official cause of death for Goldberg. However, in a memo sent to tenants on Monday, the building management extended their condolences and indicated that he likely died after slipping in the cold weather.
“Please remember that there is clear signage warning against accessing the stairs at the bulkhead level and that residents should not go to the roof of the building,” the memo stated.
Reports suggest that Goldberg parked outside and made his way to an elevator in another area of the building to retrieve his groceries. He then attempted to walk across the roof to access the stairs leading back down to his apartment but ended up lying there for hours before being found.
“There are no alarms to notify someone reaching the roof,” Irizarry remarked, expressing concern over the security measures in the building, especially since the security guard on duty failed to patrol effectively.
While the building hasn’t faced any public violations, records show that the owners have received over 100 complaints since 1985, particularly regarding elevator issues.
In January 2024, another tenant voiced frustration about the elevator breaking down every few months, stating health issues made using the stairs challenging. The tenant, whose name is not recorded, noted that although repairs were made, they often reverted to being out of order shortly afterward.
The building’s landlord was unavailable for comment on Monday.
