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ATLANTIC CITY - Authorities are calling James P. Vellanti's 30- to 40-foot fall from an escalator early Sunday at The Pier at Caesars an accidental death.

Atlantic County Medical Examiner Dr. Hydow Park found multiple traumatic injuries in Vellanti's autopsy. City police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office are adhering to Park's ruling unless new information turns up.

The escalator from which Vellanti fell travels from the third to the second floor. Frank Gilbert Jr., of Galloway Township, fell from the same one in August 2008, after witnesses said he sat on the handrail.

In both cases, the escalator was shut down immediately after the fall, then reopened the next day after an inspection by manufacturing company Schindler, said Kathy Rucki, spokeswoman for the Swiss company's North American division.

Rucki said the railing is built at a height that conforms with the voluntary federal standard established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Last year's inspection revealed no escalator malfunction, Rucki said. The investigation continues into the incident that happened at about midnight Sunday.

"We don't even know what happened yet," Rucki said. "We're just extremely saddened that this accident took place."

Police confirmed relatives' statements Sunday that the 42-year-old Vellanti, of Clinton, Hunterdon County, was the victim. He was unconscious when police arrived, then pronounced dead soon after he arrived by ambulance at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City.

The vast majority of escalator injuries come from falls, rather than entrapment, according to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.

E-mail Eric Scott Campbell:

ECampbell@pressofac.com

3 comments:

• UPPERFIRST (180) posts 6:22 pm

  Hmmmm...hedge fund manager - maybe he lost a lot of money and did himself in - or maybe someone did him in

• Michael_Barrow (196) posts 12:26 pm

  would be interesting to find out what was in his blood, if anything....alcohol level, etc.

• zebra2 (109) posts 9:33 am

  Sounds strange to me!!

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