A 66-year-old woman was killed by a homemade elevator.
Deputies say the accident happened while Margaret Harrison was visiting her friend Jean Blair’s home on Island Drive in Weeki Wachee on Tuesday morning.
Deputies say Blair uses a motorized wheelchair and used the elevator to get around the three-story home.
Here’s what deputies say happened;
Blair rode the elevator from the third floor to the second floor, which is the living area. She then sent it down to the first floor for Harrison, so it would be there when she arrived.
When Harrison had not arrived by 9 a.m., Blair became alarmed and called Harrison’s boyfriend, Frank. He drove over and located Harrison's car in the driveway.
When Frank approached the "lift," he observed that someone was underneath it. He quickly utilized the power switch to raise the lift and discovered Harrison underneath it.
Fire Rescue was called, and Harrison was pronounced dead on the scene. Autopsy results revealed that the death was accidental.
Deputies say the homemade elevator was added to the home after it was built approximately 17 years ago but that no permits were ever issued and it was found to have dangerous electrical connections.
The lift or homemade elevator was constructed by Blair’s husband from a fork lift, wood and welded metal. The couple said it was maintained monthly and that it had never failed.
The lift was deemed illegal and unsafe and was shut down by the Hernando County Building Department.