Criminal Justice Center closed Friday following elevator accident

Philadelphia's main criminal justice courthouse will remain closed Friday following an elevator accident that injured two people, including a Sheriffs' deputy.

The courthouse will be close for the most part Friday while authorities continue to investigate the incident.

Authorities say the sergeant was in an employee elevator at the 17-story Criminal Justice Center. They say the elevator car shot up quickly to a high floor before crashing through concrete flooring above.

MORE: 2 injured in elevator accident at Criminal Justice Center

Sheriff Jewell Williams says responders forced the door open and found Sgt. Paul Owens bleeding from deep lacerations to his head. He says the 50-year-old officer is hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Jewell says debris fell into an adjacent shaft and struck an elevator car in the basement. Employee Beverly Smith was found inside with seemingly minor injuries.

Renovation of the elevators was to start in October and take two years. 19 elevators are to be worked on.
The state says the elevators passed state inspection in June.

The CJC is closed tomorrow as the investigation into elevator malfunction continues.