March 10, 2005
Third Rail Death at Nassau G Stop
A young magazine publisher died from a third rail electrocution last night, after he tried to cross to the opposite platform by walking across the train tracks. The Daily News reports that Patrick Elasik, who lived in Far Rockaway to be near the ocean, was found on the tracks at 1:35AM. His business partner and co-publisher of Mass Appeal says that Elasik entered the Nassau Avenue G train station on the wrong side. Then the DN writes:
Because changing platforms required leaving and reentering the station, he apparently decided to simply cross to the other side - but touched the electrified rail and died.As far as Gothamist knows, you can get to the opposite tracks while still in the station. And in our experience in stations, when we've entered the wrong side, the subway clerks have been very nice and let us get in the other side (they might check your Metrocard, to see that you've swiped into the station, but still, it's nice). Either way, walking across the tracks is really not a good idea. [Via Candice at kittypower]
NYC Subway on the Nassau Avenue stop, and Gothamist on other subway deaths.
Photo from Tien Mao's wait for the G
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Q. Why did Elasik cross the tracks?
A. He didn't.
As someone who uses the Nassau Station twice daily, I can vouch for the ability to switch sides of the track without leaving the station or even having to go through a turnstile and reswipe.
so he had to have stepped on the 3rd rail, right?
Idiot. Darwin was right.
Wow, so soon After these comments.
Unfortunately, he lost at Russian Roulette Subway Style. Hope he wasn't one of the people commenting for jumping down on the tracks.
KeithS, I hope we never read about you in the papers...
My condolences to his family.
S.D. -- I'm the last person who would ever step onto a subway track. When I said you can switch tracks, I meant you can switch tracks the intelligent, self-preserving way: by walking around, up the stairs, and back down.
The stairways in the Nassau station may reek of alcoholic Pole urine, but they're sure as hell not electrified.
This is sad, but... how much you wanna bet the guy was drunk?
Ah, Good to know.
Lawsuit against City Hall in 5..4..3..2.
Call me cold and uncaring, but what the hell was this guy thinking? What a bone-headed move. Even if he did have to reswipe, is it worth getting killed to save $2?
actually, depending on what time he went into the station, there might have only been one entrance that he could use. if it was late (after 11:30, i think), then he could only use the entrance with the token clerk and the free in-station transfer.
On the good side, there's now an opening in publishing if anybody is job hunting.
I have to agree - what a bone head! Nothing short of mortal danger could ever make me even think about venturing on to the tracks. Doesn't everyone in this city know how heinously dangerous that is? Especially lately with all the stories about people getting killed underground. It seems like an especially uneccessary stunt to pull.
My condolences to his family, but this is one of the most bone-headed things I have ever read. Subway workers with barely a high school degree know how to walk the rails without touching the third rail.
Not endorsing doing it but this makes me shake my head.
He must have been drunk, high, or something. 1:35AM? Makes sense that that might have been the reason. Because it can be done and has been done without touching the third rail. It happens more often than you think.
"Subway workers with barely a high school degree know how to walk the rails without touching the third rail."
Dearest Capt,
You are such a condescending prick. I hadn't realized a degree bestowed intelligence. My condolences to YOUR family.
Guenther @harvard.edu, you have the boorish manners of a Yalie. Now that's condescending! But regarding track knowledge, it's not condescending as much as a fact.
Everyone has different skills. And everyone has different knowledge. I have tremenous respect for the track workers. And my post was meant to point out that if they can do it, why can't a publisher of a street wise magazine know what to. If you saw it as a slight on track workers, look towards your own internal prejudices sir Harvard.
This is a tragedy, but at the same time a mind-blowingly incomprehensible accident. Dense is indeed the word.
'my post was meant to point out that if they can do it, why can't a publisher'
sounds kinda condescending to me too. if THEY can do it, the "dumb folks," then a publisher with a degree certainly could?
Bfh, and the blogosphere's political correctness police listen up. Track workers proudly call themselves work bums.
Condescending? If you want to wear the guilt of others badge go for it. But the facts is the the facts, kind sir and or madam.
Gothamist is wrong on one point (about being able to switch sides in any station). There are a few stations where you really do have to go outside and enter in a different location to switch directions. The outdoor station signs will say "Uptown," "Brooklyn," or something to that effect (usually there's no indication of direction on the main outdoor sign).
Examples: Bleeker Street 6-train. 1st Avenue L-Train. 8th Street N/R Trains.
actually, jared, you just read that wrong. jen was talking about this specific station, which you can transfer in.
oooh sh*t Capn is a total asshat! work bums= please call me a moron??? i love his TOTAL BS FACT sh*t!! everytime that schmuck talks it feels like an UFIA. get of your high horse snob. you might find it relaxing!! ;}+
I knew this guy. He would work very late into the wee hours of the morning with his crew to get an issue of the magazine ready for press. They also used to smoke a LARGE amounts of weed - all the time, even during the day at the office. Maybe he was tired and high that night. Not a good state to make judgement calls.
I don't know about you, but when I am stoned, the last thing that I can do is make decisions. And never do I attempt anything involving serious thought, i.e. driving cars, dodging trains or third rails.
Maybe he was just pissed off. Anger is usually the emotion that makes me do really stupid things.
"Everyone has different skills. And everyone has different knowledge."
Captain Obvious, you illiterate bum. You made two sentences out of one. What's even worse than your grammar, is your stupid, flawed argument. You say that because a publisher has a degree he should be just as adept at manuevering around subway tracks as a track worker. Last time I checked, subway maintenance wasn't part of the English degree requirement.
I can't believe he could do something that stupid. I'm friends with his sister and their family and they are all so devastated.
believe it or not, some people actually don't know that the third rail is electrified. yes, it's crazy but true. and it seems highly likely that he was intoxicated (1:35am? in williamsburg?)
D'oh Cap'n,
Track workers are SUPPOSED to know not to touch the third rail. It's their job, nimrod.
It might have been a bonehead move but he (Patrick) was no bonehead. How many of us head a magazine with 100000 subscribers? He was a good kid and didn't deserve this but he made an innocent move and paid for it with his life. If anyone in here has ever been in a moment where you thought you were gonna die, you would know what he felt that last second and then maybe you would think twice about joking about someone's death in such a public forum. Did it occur to anyone that his family and friends might end up here reading this?Shame on those people who can not be mature enough to speak their peace and leave. It brings me tremendous joy to know that Your bitter deportment is your curse in life. I hope you live a long time. You deserve it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rest in peace Patrick Elasik----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------