Investigators looking into what went wrong in subway death of Marcus Bryant
NEW YORK -- A freak subway accident left a Brooklyn man dead, and investigators are still figuring out exactly what went wrong.
Lit candles outside Marcus Bryant's apartment symbolize the memories of the 37-year-old will live on. About a mile away at the Avenue M subway station in Midwood, leftover pink caution tape serves as a more somber reminder of what happened to him.
"I am shocked and amazed that such a thing could happen, and I feel very bad for the family," Harlem resident Roger Harris told CBS2.
Transit officials say Bryant died in a freak accident just before midnight Wednesday when he was getting off the Q train and got caught between the train and the platform.
They say he couldn't break free in time and was then dragged, as the train continued out of the station. He fell onto the tracks and was hit by a second train pulling in.
"Unclear what the exact cause of death was, first or second train," said New York City Transit Authority President Richard Davey.
Davey says he does not think it was a door incident, and officials are now focused on figuring out whether proper protocols were followed.
"A conductor should have his or her head out the window when the doors close and be looking to the left and to the right for approximately 75 feet," said Davey. "That's our normal protocol."
The NYPD says 89 people have been struck by trains in New York City so far this year. That's up from 53 people this time last year.
However, ridership is also up since the peak of COVID. Many commuters say they're uneasy after Wednesday's incident.
"People must pay attention for this one, very attention," one commuter said.
"This whole New York City transit thing, it's a literal nightmare, it's a death trap," said Crown Heights resident Kim Watson.
Police say security cameras were on and working at the station when all this happened, and they are still reviewing the footage.
Both train crews involved have been taken off duty while the MTA investigates.