Third Rail Suicide Downtown

Yesterday morning's delays on the Lexington Avenue subway line were caused by an early morning suicide at the Astor Place subway station. A man, "described only as in his 60s," went onto the southbound tracks as a 6 train was pulling in. The Daily News says the train stopped 100 feet away (the Post says the train stopped inches away), and the "man looked toward the train and placed his head on the electrified third rail, killing himself." The police investigation caused the power to be shut off on the tracks between Grand Central and Brooklyn Bridge for a few hours.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 11, 2006 8:51 AM

Comments [rss]

Jane Minty

I lived in a super small town as well. And believe me, some totally weird crap took place back there. In fact, weirder. It just didn't happen as often.

Mihow, so true. It's basically the ratio of people to tragedy, I suppose.

When I moved here (12 years ago this month, yay!), I just prepared myself for the worst. I was pleasantly surprised at what actually WAS covered in the news, and to find that people here did give a shit (at least way more than I anticipated).

mihow

When I lived in DC it seemed there was a suicide once a week on the Metro. That's pushing it, but there many jumpers. Then there are those who fly in from all over the place to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. (I remember the number of people who jump from the Golden Gate as being unbelievably high.)

NYC, like any other major city, is massive. There are more incidents perhaps, but it's all relative. There are just more of us around to lose our minds.

I lived in a super small town as well. And believe me, some totally weird crap took place back there. In fact, weirder. It just didn't happen as often.

Guess what I'm saying is: Less people, less weird sh*t. ;]

BlackOps

Landor, Get use to it!

nick

re: brian van

hahahahah! good ripperlog reference.

Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

Last words: "I told you I was hardcore."

Seriously, that's way more ballsy that just throwing yourself off a building. It's a crazy way to go. (Not as crazy as blowing up a townhouse, but still)

dora

To Landor: It can be hard to negotiate our feelings on the many, many horrible things that happen in this city. For me, the hardest thing about moving here was getting used to the large number of homeless people; it's my nature to reach out and feel angry at the injustice of a city where people are strapped for resources so much that they sleep outside in bitter cold. But it was hard to feel so enraged all the time.

What helps me: when this many people are crammed into this small a space, the best and the worst parts of humans are drawn out. There are so many examples of wonderful things that happen in this city, people reaching out to others or people banding together to get through a crisis period. When all these horrible things are happening, wonderful things are also happening here. Just extremes, that's what goes on here.

Constant Dater

Well there seems to have been a surge in unusual murders/suicides/freak accidents lately. But honestly you just count your blessings and those of the people you know and care about. I mean if you felt bad about every single person you should feel pity for, you'd be the one lying on the third rail within a week.

Rocknrope

Although human carnage is an essential element of news reporting in this city, it does seem that there've been a larger than normal reportings of suicides in the past couple of months.

Landor

Fuck you, anonymous. Hey, I think I'm cured!

anonymous

human compasion is an illusion. now get out of my way, i'm trying to walk here!

Landor

I just moved here from the midwest and am slightly unsettled by the human carnage constantly reported in this city. Don't get me wrong - I love it here, but how does one balance stolidness as a means of surviving with the human need for compassion?