Escalator Investigation Suspended

DENVER -- City records show that the escalator involved in last Wednesday night's accident at Coors Field and six other escalators at the ballpark passed inspection just days before the mishap that injured 32 people but had missed an inspection back in December and operated for six months without a permit.

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Escalator Victims: We Felt We Were Going To Die Family Describes Their Fall Down Escalator Hear From Eyewitnesses At Coors Field

The city requires escalators and elevators to be inspected twice a year but records show all seven of Coors Field's escalators were covered with tarps and out of service when city inspector Leroy Dreiling arrived to check them on Dec. 16.

However, they did pass inspection just two days before the July 2 accident.

The cause of the escalator's sudden acceleration, which sent dozens of people tumbling to the bottom, is still not known and may not be known for some time.

City inspectors have suspended their investigation because the Rockies want their own consultant to be on hand. The investigation is expected to resume Monday if the consultant is hired by then.

Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said he knew nothing about the permits and referred questions to the Denver Community Planning and Development Agency, which inspects elevators and escalators.

All the Coors Field escalators were turned off after the accident and will not run during the Rockies' five-game home stand which starts Wednesday.

The earliest the escalators would resume operation is July 25, the start of the next home stand.