DECATUR — Investigation of an elevator accident at the Simmons Feed Mill in Decatur is ongoing, according to Denise Oxley, attorney for the Arkansas Department of Labor Elevator Safety Division.

Oxley wrote in a Dec. 28 email that the division’s chief elevator inspector anticipates that the investigation will be complete in another 10 to 14 days.

A 50-year-old Simmons Foods employee was inside the elevator on Nov. 21 when the cable apparently broke and dropped the elevator three stories, according to Decatur Fire Chief David Flynt.

The man, whose name was not released, sustained multiple injuries and was transported to the hospital by AirEvac helicopter.

The Elevator Safety Division is responsible for making sure elevators are inspected - either by the division or a private company - and issues permits. It is also responsible for investigating elevator accidents.

The elevator at Simmons Feed Mill in Decatur was last inspected on Aug. 28 by Elevator Inspection Service Inc. of Batesville and no violations were found.

News, Pages 1 on 01/09/2013