Florida Girl Loses Fingers in Escalator Accident

A 5-year-old girl whose left hand got caught in a department store escalator lost three fingers because of the accident, her family said.

Source ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dec. 3, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- A 5-year-old girl whose left hand got caught in a department store escalator lost three fingers because of the accident, her family said.

Kerriana Johnson's shoe became caught in the escalator at Dillard's Department Store in a mall Friday. When the girl reached down to free herself, her hand became entangled, said James Jewell, the fiance of the girl's mother, Lori Medvitz.

``I don't understand how anything could get caught in one of those things,'' Jewell said.

A state fire marshal and two police officers helped the child free her hand by removing a plate where the escalator meets the descending steps, police spokesman Rick Stelljes said.

Officials at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg would not provide an update on the girl's condition.

A Dillard's spokesman was not available for comment.