Man Killed by Subway Train While Trying to Retrieve MP3 Player

Peter Ehrlich/NYCsubway.org

An unidentified man was fatally struck by a southbound B train last night around 7:30 at the Central Park West and 110th St. station. Witnesses told police the man, an Hispanic male from Washington Heights in his mid-30s, was engaged in an agitated cell phone conversation when he dropped his portable music device onto the tracks. One bystander says, "I saw a guy sitting on the stairs talking on his cellphone, then I saw him leaning over the tracks watching for a train to come, when, all of a sudden, he was nowhere to be found."

"It was an accident," a police source tells the Daily News. "He went on the tracks for his MP3 player, picked it up, and stood up just in time for the train to hit him head on and drag him. He just wasn't quick enough." The man's body was so badly dismembered that it took hours for crews to clean up the station, according to the News. Earlier this month, a man was killed by a train at the Pennsylvania Avenue station in East New York and, five years ago, a 19-year-old woman was killed at the Grand Avenue station when trying to pick up her cellphone from the tracks.

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By John Del Signore in News on December 15, 2009 8:35 AM

Comments [rss]

Think2wice

Once on the above ground Q train Kings Highway station (aka the Elevated Subway) some flighty girl dropped her cellphone on the tracks and very nicely asked me to retrieve it for her.

Now, from that particular platform one can see if the tracks are clear for several miles in either direction in broad daylight.

The coast was clear and feeling particularly cavalier, I deigned help the damsel in distress. I quickly climbed down on to the tracks and handed her phone back. She then reached down to hoist me up. I'm thinking, "A little thing like you carry me? I'd just fling you down here."

Instead I quickly stood facing backwards and with my hands holding the platform edge behind me, I pushed myself back up. (Kind of like the way you would hoist yourself to take a seat on a kitchen counter or stage edge.) All the while I hoped I could pull it off and not have to run to the end of the platform to take the track workers' staircase. I was safe and the girl was very grateful.

HOWEVER, if this was underground and/or I had no idea if the coast was clear, I'd tell her to get help from the agent. IF, it was my cellphone and it was not rush hour, I'd do the previous suggestion of waiting until the next train had just pull away and make a quick dive to get it.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

its not a suicide mission to jump on the tracks to get something. I feel for the person, it could have been of me or you or someone you know.

Gwinny

This is sad indeed -- not to mention a pointless death.

As a side note, it also screwed up trains bigtime last night....although I was on an *uptown* D, not a downtown local. The train stopped multiple times (starting at 7th ave and all the way uptown) for 5 minutes at a time...it also sat at Columbus Circle forever and an A train went in front... they said NO trains were running local uptown (why??) but then we were passed by a B and a C making stops as we crawled at a snail's pace before finally making a stop at 125. This was at around 9:30 PM. I didn't see anything on either the uptown or downtown sides at 110 (where we were told there was a "police investigation").

All told, it took 90 minutes to get from Grand Street to 145. Just wanted to say this because I'm surprised there aren't other people bitching about uptown service last night (wonder how downtown service was affected?).

SighR

I don't understand this. If this was me, it would have been a precise mission. In and out. Did he not find it and keep looking??

I agree with potsmoker.

Steven

How could you not see or hear the train coming?

MrCow

he should have just let the train go by, i bet the mp3 player wasn't even scratched.

theLtrain

It should be pretty obvious is it's safe to jump into the tracks and retrieve something or not. Just look down into the tunnel..if you see lights you probably should wait until that train leaves.

ItchyGoiter

These people are idiots, but perhaps there should be some method of notifying upcoming trains when someone is on the tracks. Just sayin. If my garage door knows not to hit me, the subway should too.

jza1218

I hate people that sit on the stairs...

Xmas comes early for me!

potsmoker

just dont do it.

but i gotta say its not hard to jump down jump up, cross the tracks or just spot your item then retreive it at exact same time as soon as a train passes. takes 5 seconds. bad timing, stupidity, alcohol, drugs and lack of upper body strength, or attempting this without looking to see if oncoming trains provide a clear sight line is the real problem.

HOTCUP

how was he having a conversation on his cell phone while underground?

hotstepper

there are quite a few stations that you can get (albeit crappy) reception while underground. i've even had my phone ring while in a moving train itself.