(L.A.) Francisco Orduno Mota, 68, Died at a Business

Case Number: 2023-00157

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 68-year-old male of Latin American ethnicity that occurred at a business.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Francisco Orduno Mota.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Blunt Trauma

RIP FRANCISCO ORDUNO MOTA (September 17, 1954 – January 4, 2023)

The decedent was crushed to death after getting stuck between a freight elevator’s doors. First responders pronounced him dead on the scene.

It happened Wednesday morning. The man was trapped at the second-floor level freight elevator doorway at the rear of a six-story commercial building. Mota worked in the building.

Location: 820 South Broadway Street in DTLA, near 8th Street

On January 4, 2023, at 11:40 am, the Los Angeles Fire Department sent out the following bulletin:

Downtown Agency Assist

PRELIM: Male (unknown age / site affiliation / time factor / circumstances) discovered deceased, trapped at 2nd floor level freight elevator doorway at the rear of a 6 story commercial building. LAFD responders will assist the Coroner’s Office with the safe, discreet and dignified recovery of his remains. No further details. Media Inquiries: LAPD Central Division and Coroner (323-343-0695)

The summary provided by OSHA:

At 11:30 a.m. on January 4, 2023, an employee was crawling over a liftgate when a tenant called for the freight elevator. The employee was crushed by the freight elevator and died.

osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1641672.015