FALL RIVER -- A broken elevator cable dropped a North Dartmouth
man two stories, resulting in his death yesterday afternoon, Asst. Dist.
Atty. Gerald FitzGerald said.
Stephen Custadio, 53, of North Dartmouth, was a longtime maintenance man
at E.C. Pigment, formerly known as Roma Color Inc., FitzGerald said.
Custadio's son, Adam, was the plant's other maintenance man, according
to one coworker.
Custadio was trying to repair a freight elevator that was stuck on the
second floor of the E.C. Pigment plant at 749 Quequechan St., FitzGerald
said.
At about 1:30 p.m., a cable broke and the emergency brake did not
activate, FitzGerald said. Custadio was alone in the elevator when the
accident took place, according to Fall River police Lt. Jeff Cardoza.
Custadio died from the injuries he suffered in the accident, FitzGerald
said.
State troopers from the district attorney's office are investigating the
accident, along with Fall River detectives, according to Cardoza.
Cardoza said the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
had also been notified.
Investigators have not determined the cause of the accident, Cardoza
said. FitzGerald explained that all sudden deaths are investigated by
authorities.
An autopsy is scheduled for today, FitzGerald said.
With reports from Journal Staff Writer Mark Reynolds.
