Man Killed By Subway Train In Times Square
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A man has died after he was struck by a subway train in Times Square, authorities said.
Transit spokeswoman Judie Glave said the incident around 10 a.m. Tuesday involved a No. 2 train. Witnesses told police he jumped into its path.
The station remained open but police roped off the uptown platform for the 1, 2 and 3 trains.
Nearly an hour later, police were still at the scene investigating, but 2 and 3 train service had resumed with residual delays.
Tuesday's incident was the latest in a recent spate of people being hit and killed by subway trains.
Earlier this month, one person was killed and another injured after apparently falling onto the tracks in front of an oncoming 6 train at the 125th Street station.
In a separate incident, a man fell onto the E train tracks on Lexington Avenue and 51st. Police said it appeared the victim lost his footing and was hit by the train.
Last month, two people were killed in unrelated incidents after police said they were pushed onto the tracks by seemingly random attackers.
After the latest train death Tuesday, Council Member James Vacca, Chair of the Transportation Committee, called for an emergency hearing to explore how the MTA can prevent future subway track deaths.
"Even one life lost on our subway tracks is one life too many," Vacca said in a statement. "It's time for elected officials, the public, and the MTA to say 'enough is enough' and actually do something about this problem."
Vacca said he will look into the possibility of installing platform doors at some subway stations to prevent people from falling or jumping in front of trains.
"I think we've had many wake-up calls and yet I don't see a strategy and I don't see a plan," Vacca told 1010 WINS. "At this point, on behalf of the council, I'm going to insist that the agencies come to the table and tell us where do we go from here."
In the wake of the recent track deaths, the Transport Workers Union Local 100 has distributed fliers urging subway operators to slow down as they approach a station.
The union also began a new subway art campaign that shows a chalk outline of a person on the tracks and the words "Slow Down Over Your Dead Body."
(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
