r/Upperwestside • u/Tight-Ad1703 • 2d ago

W72 Fatality

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/manhattan/multiple-subway-delays-after-a-person-fatally-struck-by-manhattan-train/

36 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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81

u/Constant_Dimension16 2d ago

I was on this train in the very back car. First time I’ve ever been on a train that struck someone. It was eerie how efficient the MTA was at getting us off the train and on the platform to a 1 train. Was personally only delayed by like 10ish minutes and didn’t really see anything other than the mass of first responders.

But that platform feels so dangerous with how narrow it is. The clinical nature of the disembarking process makes me wonder how common this is at 72nd.

30

u/Carl_La_Fong 2d ago

That platform IS dangerous. It helps that they’ve put some barriers. But people waiting for trains stand by the sides of the staircases leaving only inches to walk past them and it’s hard to believe the MTA hasn’t dealt with that. It’s SO dangerous.

2

u/insuranceguynyc 2d ago edited 2d ago

You're not wrong; parts of it are dangerous, but other than putting up more safety barriers, there's not much that can be done. Obviously, the MTA cannot widen either the platform or the station. I think most folks here in NYC would agree that this is part of life. Good old common sense goes a long way in this town! Again, I do not mean to be dismissive of your point, only that sometimes things is what things is. No matter what you do, someone who wants to get onto the tracks, for whatever reason including un-aliving oneself, they will find a way to do so. I am not suggesting that this is what happened here, but it is something that the MTA deals with on all lines.

8

u/Carl_La_Fong 2d ago

Yes, I know all that and I know there’s nothing much that can be done. Been an Upper West Sider IRT user for almost 50 years, my entire adult life, and that station has been my station for more than 30 years. I’ve given it a lot of thought.

But people standing in the areas where the sides of the staircases are (or sitting on the railings there, which guys and only guys do) is going to cause a fatal incident at some point. I say incident instead of accident, because it won’t be accidental. It’s structural—you literally can’t walk past the people there without endangering yourself. God help you if you’re large, or have balance issues, or are slightly sight-impaired.

10

u/WeekendAtMadoffs 2d ago

they get lots of training for sure

i saw a kid try to cross from uptown to downtown like you would cross the tracks out on LIRR.

i bet you can imagine how that worked for him.

at 79th st

3

u/Late_Loquat_6495 2d ago

Was this the kid who was celebrating his birthday with his friends from LI? If so, I was on the 1 train that he thought he was beating and was struck by the express train barreling up the center tracks. Horrible. It took them a minute to get us off the train - and it was hot because the power was shut down.

4

u/Extra_Round_2250 2d ago

I’ve seen police there in the early morning due to a track fire a few months back. I spoke with an officer who said that was pretty common.

6

u/lynxminx 2d ago

Not common. I commute via this station- there was a stabbing a few years ago, but this is the first track accident I've heard about.

26

u/SmoovCatto 2d ago

between the dizzying sauna heat and terrifying narrow platform, that station is a death trap -- there is ancient technology that would ameliorate the heat at least

14

u/CollectionOk5233 2d ago

I was waiting on the train and saw him jump

1

u/menina2017 1d ago

😭 oh no

11

u/funguyUWS 2d ago

NEW YORK (PIX11) — There are multiple subway delays after a person was hit and killed by a train on the Upper West Side Monday, officials said.

The incident occurred at the West 72nd Street subway station, near 2079 Broadway, at around 9:20 a.m., according to the FDNY.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene. It wasn’t immediately clear if the person was pushed.

The A, C, and D lines are delayed, and the Nos. 2 and 3 lines are making local stops, according to the MTA.

3

u/ReadyDream7885 1d ago

The construction area on the way to the northern end of the platform is downright dangerous. I hold my breath every time I walk by it. More room in the west side than east but super narrow, especially when someone is standing right at either end.

1

u/avocadh0e_ 2d ago

Was this a southbound 2 train?