A disabled Galveston man recovering from hip surgery is now in the hospital after a reported elevator malfunction at Oceanfront Apartments—the same complex that left him stranded outside his apartment last week.
The Situation
William Dean says he returned home Monday night, only to experience a serious elevator malfunction. He suffered chest and rib contusions and an L1 compression fracture, and was transported by EMS.
Last week, Dean says he was left stranded outside his apartment for over two hours after both elevators went out of service. He says he had notified apartment management in advance that he would need elevator access following his hip surgery.
“I was stuck in the parking lot for over two hours,” Dean said. “I couldn’t get upstairs, and I couldn’t get anyone to answer the phone. I just don’t want this to happen to someone else.”
Dean says this is not the first time the elevators have had problems. Action 7 received complaints from former tenants and contractors who experienced similar issues, including being trapped in elevators and being unable to reach management.
Marshal’s Response
The City Marshal’s Office confirmed the property is not in compliance with the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). Buildings with passenger elevators are required to have at least one elevator operational at all times while the building is occupied.
City officials say they have received previous complaints about the elevators and filed charges in Galveston Municipal Court for the original violation last week. They also confirmed that the property has been red-tagged and had been operating without proper permits. Officials say they are continuing to monitor the situation and working with the property to ensure resident safety.
Management’s Statement
Apartment management previously told Action 7 the elevators were out of service due to a failed inspection, and that repairs were underway. Management said residents were notified and the elevators should be back in service this week.
When asked about the new incident, attempts to reach the leasing office today were unsuccessful. Management did not respond to requests for comment on the hospitalization or the property’s red tag. We will provide an update as soon as they do.
Management previously said they were unaware of prior complaints or citations related to the elevators, and described last week’s incident as the first of its kind during their tenure. City officials, however, cite repeated complaints and confirmed code violations.
Where Things Stand
For Dean, the situation highlights ongoing concerns about accessibility and accountability at the complex.
Action 7 will continue to follow this story and the city’s enforcement actions to ensure resident safety and prevent future elevator outages.
KGTX 7 Galveston County 