August 16, 2003
HOUSTON- A doctor was killed Saturday when an elevator malfunctioned and decapitated him at Christus St. Joseph Hospital, authorities said.
Hitoshi Nikaidoh, 35, of Dallas, was a surgical resident at the downtown Houston hospital.
Harold Jordan, an investigator with the Harris County Medical Examiner's office, said Nikaidoh was stepping onto a second-floor elevator about 9:30 a.m. when the elevator's doors closed and pinned his shoulders.
Jordan said the elevator car moved upward and severed the doctor's head.
Police said a female hospital worker on the elevator witnessed the accident and was trapped on the elevator for 15 or 20 minutes before firefighters were able to remove her.
Houston Police Sgt. Kenneth Perkins said medical personnel at the hospital were in disbelief.
"They were trying to console one another," he said. "The looks on their faces pretty much told the whole story."
Police are investigating what caused the accident, and hospital officials have since closed the elevator bank.
"All of us at Christus St. Joseph Hospital are deeply, deeply saddened today by the tragic death of a resident physician," said Mike Sullivan, regional vice president of Christus Health Gulf Coast. "Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to the family, friends, patients and associates of this physician."
Sullivan read from a statement and declined to answer questions.
Perkins said maintenance crews has been working on the elevators during the past week.
Nikaidoh graduated in 2003 from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School.
HOUSTON- A doctor was killed Saturday when an elevator malfunctioned and decapitated him at Christus St. Joseph Hospital, authorities said.
Hitoshi Nikaidoh, 35, of Dallas, was a surgical resident at the downtown Houston hospital.
Harold Jordan, an investigator with the Harris County Medical Examiner's office, said Nikaidoh was stepping onto a second-floor elevator about 9:30 a.m. when the elevator's doors closed and pinned his shoulders.
Jordan said the elevator car moved upward and severed the doctor's head.
Police said a female hospital worker on the elevator witnessed the accident and was trapped on the elevator for 15 or 20 minutes before firefighters were able to remove her.
Houston Police Sgt. Kenneth Perkins said medical personnel at the hospital were in disbelief.
"They were trying to console one another," he said. "The looks on their faces pretty much told the whole story."
Police are investigating what caused the accident, and hospital officials have since closed the elevator bank.
"All of us at Christus St. Joseph Hospital are deeply, deeply saddened today by the tragic death of a resident physician," said Mike Sullivan, regional vice president of Christus Health Gulf Coast. "Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to the family, friends, patients and associates of this physician."
Sullivan read from a statement and declined to answer questions.
Perkins said maintenance crews has been working on the elevators during the past week.
Nikaidoh graduated in 2003 from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School.
