One person is dead after falling down an elevator shaft at a City of Erie business Tuesday, according to Erie County Coroner, Lyell Cook.

It was reported around 4 p.m. at Andy's Equipment, a commercial kitchen supply business, at 959 W. 12th St., which is located at the intersection with Cascade St.

The victim was a 71 year old man, who was an employee of Andy's Equipment, said the coroner.

Cook also told Erie News Now that the man fell down two stories, through an open elevator shaft to the basement and died instantly. He pronounced him dead at the scene at 5:04 p.m.

Investigators are treating the death as an accident.

The door was open to the industrial elevator shaft, but the elevator car was actually a floor above when the man stepped in and fell.

Police and the coroner are continuing their investigation.