Baby dies when stroller falls down elevator shaft

A 6-week-old baby has died after a stroller crashed down a Brooklyn elevator shaft Thursday, police said.

The baby's mom was waiting with the stroller on the 23rd floor of a Coney Island apartment building at 2415 Neptune Ave. at around 11:40 a.m. Thursday. The doors opened, she stepped forward, but the elevator was not there. They fell down the shaft, police said.

The elevator was out of service at the time while a mechanic was working on it. He heard the mother's screams and pulled her and the baby out of the shaft.

The baby was pronounced dead at Coney Island Hospital. She has been identified as Areej Ali. The mother is expected to recover.

The Department of Buildings is investigating.

"We will be testing all of the elevators in the building to ensure they are operating safely," DOB spokesman Andrew Rudansky said.

Built in 1974, the high rise building is 24 stories tall and contains 335 apartments, according to web listings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.