Panic broke out inside one of Broadway’s most famous theaters after a terrifying escalator malfunction injured a group of children waiting to see the hit musical Wicked in New York City.
According to police, 11 children and one adult were hurt Wednesday evening after an escalator inside the Gershwin Theatre suddenly malfunctioned during the busy pre-show rush.
The frightening incident happened around 5:12 p.m. inside the packed theater on West 51st Street in Manhattan’s Theater District, where crowds had gathered for a performance of the long-running Broadway smash.
Authorities said the escalator reportedly jolted without warning, sending people tumbling forward in a chaotic chain reaction. Police sources believe the nightmare may have started after a child’s shoelace became trapped in the escalator mechanism.
Witnesses described a disturbing scene as emergency crews rushed into the theater to help injured children — some of them reportedly very young.
Several victims were seen being carried out on stretchers, while others were placed in wheelchairs before being loaded into ambulances waiting outside the theater.
Thankfully, officials said all 12 victims suffered only minor injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
One theatergoer, Julia Wicke, said she initially noticed something was wrong when the escalator was suddenly shut down.
“The escalator was shut down and it was odd, people were going around it and walking up the stairs, but I didn’t think anything of it,” she said. “It is really scary to hear about. I’ve always been scared of escalators and I feel bad for the people who had to miss the show because of it.”
Despite the frightening accident, the show went on.
Just a short time later, theatergoers were once again lining up outside the theater for the 7 p.m. performance of Wicked as investigators worked inside the building.
The New York City Department of Buildings is now investigating exactly what caused the escalator to malfunction.
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