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There was only one thing Kyle Fischer did not like about rooming with Andy Polakowski, his high school friend who came to Ohio State with him in September 2006.
“He would have an early morning class and would hit that snooze button on the alarm like three or four times, then turn it off and go back to sleep,” Fischer said. “I’d think to myself, ‘If you’re not going to class, don’t turn the alarm on, ’cause my class isn’t ’til like 12.'”
Now, Fischer said he would give anything to hear that alarm go off.
Polakowski died the night of Oct. 20, 2006 – a year ago this Saturday – after being crushed to death in a Stradley Hall elevator. Witnesses said he was trying to escape when the elevator began to descend while the doors remained open.
“I would wake up and just look over, and that side of the room was completely barren,” Fischer said. “I was aware of it like every day. I’d look over there when I’d come back and there wasn’t music from down the hall that I could hear.”
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A year later, Fischer and Polakowski’s other friends at OSU continue to think of him and mourn his death. The Facebook page created in his honor last year is still active with 616 current members. Those who knew him still share their memories through the page, thus keeping his memory alive.
Polakowski’s friend and floormate, Adam Weber, recalled the incidents that occurred that night.
“We wanted to go out and have fun. We didn’t realize how big a group we were getting,” he said. “Everyone’s been on a crowded elevator before – you don’t really think much of it. (But then) I heard one of the girls say ‘it’s dropping’ and I look up and it’s coming down and there’s his body just dangling there,” he said. “I was in absolute shock.”
Atom Vincent, who was Polakowski’s resident adviser, was on call that night and said he discovered the scene after responding to the elevator’s call button, thinking the doors were simply stuck. He said he was terrified by what he saw.
“I didn’t even know what to do,” he said. “I couldn’t even breathe…That is the last thing when you become an RA that you expect to happen.”
Vincent said the only thing he could think to do was call 9-1-1 and try to keep people away. Students on the elevator were taken to a nearby room and questioned by police. Minutes later, officials arrived and pronounced Polakowski dead at the scene due to mechanical asphyxia – pressure on the chest which prevents breathing. Fischer said police did not immediately give them much information about what happened, but he recalls being told of Polakowski’s death.
“I just broke down…I was a mess at that point. I thought it was a dream, it was unreal,” he said.
Grief counselors were on hand to help students cope with the turn of events.
Weber said it would be approximately two months before the police report was released with solid details about what happened.
The students said the OSU administration was helpful in creating a welcoming environment for them after Polakowski’s death. Fischer recalls the hall director changing his dormitory number in an effort to shield him from calls from the media. Other students, however, dealt with media questioning in his absence.
“Everyone liked him”
A native of Erie, Pa., Polakowski enjoyed sports. He played soccer and was a long distance runner for his high school track team. Friends describe Polakowski as an outgoing and fun person who brandished a personality that attracted many people to him.
“He was one of those kids where pretty much everyone liked him. He wasn’t … really good friends with everybody, but everyone was cool with him, it was OK,” Fischer said.
Ruth Gerstner, assistant vice president of Student Affairs for communication, said although Polakowski’s death initially brought much concern among students, she believes many of their worries regarding elevator safety have been lessened during the past year. The elevator that killed Polakowski was reopened May 30.
“(The accident) increased awareness, and after finishing inspections and explaining the reasonings behind the incident, students have come to realize that this was a very rare occurrence, so they are not as worried,” Gerstner said.
Although the elevator safety concerns have been lightened, the hearts of Polakowski’s friends are still heavy.
Weber said he still thinks what life would have been like with his friend under different circumstances.
“It’s just at random times, like when we play soccer, I think ‘He would’ve been playing with us.’ Kyle and I live together with a couple friends from the floor and I wonder if he would have lived with us and what would have happened with that.”
Despite the devastating and unexpected loss, life for his friends has gone on.
Fischer is now completing his second year at OSU.
“It gets easier over time, but obviously it doesn’t quite go away. It’s still there with you,” he said. “(But) I didn’t want to completely give up on life, and I’m sure that’s what (Andy) would have wanted, to not give up.”
Lisa Scott can be reached at [email protected].
