A woman died on Saturday morning around 10:30 after falling onto the subway tracks at 72nd Street and being hit by a northbound 3 train.
The circumstances around her death are still somewhat confusing. A police spokesperson said that she fell, but did not have further details. Police sources and witnesses have told other media outlets that the woman may have slipped on the tracks or even fainted.
“Police say the woman fell into the path of a 3 Train and became pinned between the train and the platform,” ABC reported. The Post reported that she had “passed out onto the tracks.”
The Daily News talked to a subway worker who relayed more information. “A subway worker said he was told by police and firefighters that she fainted and fell. ‘From what I saw and what I heard, she did not even get out in front of the train, he said.”
The woman’s identity was not available as of Sunday evening. ABC reports that she was 33.
That platform is so narrow and decrepit it’s scary – but MTA decides its better to fix up station at 86th and CPW, how are these decisions made?! CPW vs Broadway perhaps – not right!!!!
I am sure the MTA would be interested in hearing how to expand the platforms at 72nd Street without shutting down the 1,2,3 lines for a year or two. I do not believe it has anything to do with, nor should it be compared to, upgrades on CPW.
86th is in desperate need of a makeover. Nothing can be done about 72nd street you can’t just make the platform wider they would have to move the tracks to the side which means you would have to tear down the walls.
The W. 72nd IRT is my neighborhood stop and I’ve been riding from it for 47 years. Sorry for this poor woman but amazed that there haven’t been more accidents and fatalities. If you think the platforms and stairs (particularly south end) are narrow and decrepit now you should have seen the horrendous conditions of that entire station prior to the desperately-needed major renovation in 2002. The station is still inadequate and dangerous (particularly at rush hours) but compared to what it was like before it’s Versailles. Totally agree about the ongoing closures and work on the CPW stations but that’s the MTA for you.
This is so sad. But in a way I am not totally surprised. I am on that thin platform every work day. I always thought it is an accident waiting to happen
Hey
This story is very sad and upsetting
Don’t stand near the yellow line. Accidents happen. Keep your self safe by keeping distance
Love you
can someone please find out this woman’s name? it happened in front of my eyes and I keep reliving the scenario trying to understand how it happened. I’ll never forget this moment. I’ll never forget what she was wearing and how she had her hair up and how she was positioned. I wish these articles would provide more information about this poor woman.
Angela matech
Angela matech. Had 2 young sons
I was sitting on the platform when this happened as well! Two(2) minutes prior to this incident the woman literally fell onto my lap when she lost her balance. I can still see her face! I would really like to chat with you about what you remember to get some closure! I work at DOHMH if you want to connect or chat for a brief moment? I am going to talk with someone about this tomorrow!
That was my sister. Can we please talk?
Yes I don’t mind connecting to discuss what happened. I’m so sorry that this incident was traumatic for you too. It was an awful sight. And everyone’s screams is something I will never ever forget.
I was on the train in the first car, when they opened the doors she was right in front of me. I remember her pink puffy keychain was on the floor..
It is customary and logical to withhold the names of victims of accidents like this until the police are 100% sure that family members have been notified. WSR is usually pretty good about following up on these things.
My thoughts and prayers go out to this poor woman’s friends and family. I was in the station a few hours later trying to navigate the narrow platform with my young children and thinking about how dangerous it is, unaware of what had just happened.
I believe that they never reveal the name until the family is told first.
Sorry you witnessed this tragedy, however I don’t understand why you require the victim’s name?
To get closure, I wish I could put a name to this woman’s face. I wish I knew more about her life and who she was. Everyone feels closure in different ways…
That was my sister can we please talk?
I’m so sorry you had to witness this. I have seen a number of traumatic things and for some reason knowing the details for me is really important to processing the event. I know people need privacy, but at the same time when they are in a public space, you become apart of the event and if you feel things hard, like I do, its really hard to move forward without the details to help put them to rest. Don’t hesitate to go see someone if this stays with you. Take care. xo
KES, thank you I totally agree. It is terribly painful to process these types of tragedies, especially in public. With you 100%. Thanks for the support! I can only imagine the pain her family and friends are feeling. Life is so delicate and can be taken away so quickly.
Take care as well! Xo
I’m sorry you had to see that. Take care of yourself.
A woman was killed there years ago. I always think of that when I go to that station which I try to avoid. The pplatform is just too narrow to be safe.
They ought to install railings at this station like they ha e at the Times Square shuttle platform.
Paul, I never thought about that, but it makes very good sense. These trains are a set length and they already know where the doors open. Having a railing system in areas where the doors do not open would certainly provide an extra measure of safety.
This is one of the least safe stations in nyc because of its width and poorly designed staircases. Horrific accident, horrific death. Of course MTA has other priorities and shuts down other stations for cosmetic repairs. I have no idea how this station could pass any safety inspection. A few years ago my child’s stroller almost got stuck between the train and the stairwell. Got it out right before he trained pulled to the station. Ans there’s no other way to get to the end of the platform where the elevator is located.
The 72nd Street Subway station has to have more fatalities in NY than any other station. Does anyone know? I’ve been here 30 years and it never ceases to terrify me. My kids and I avoid it at all costs. It has to have the most narrow platform of all the stations I’ve been to. Has anyone done a study on it? I know it’s busy and well-used, but it’s also dingy, scary and obviously a hazard. Ugh. Poor woman. How terrifying.
I have witnessed another person fainting and falling onto the tracks in this station. Fortunately there was enough time for good samaritans to get her off the tracks before the next train.
Here’s where we really could use a wall. We have written about the need for walls along our subway platforms each time we learn of someone being pushed or jumping in front of a subway train. One lady commented that a wall would not prevent suicides. Oh, so don’t try? Please. We can spend on beautifully decorated subway walls. Great. So, lets put up walls protecting subway riders from being pushed, jumping or falling into the tracks and give our artists some more walls to beautify. Here’s what we wrote in the past. Is any body out there? It’s the right thing to do. Please, let’s get it done.
July 28, 2017 at 9:23 pm
How much treaure was invested in the new subway stations on the Upper East Side with beautiful art on the walls? Could there not have been some monies dedicated for walls along the platform edges that would have sliding doors that correspond to the subway car doors and open with them? Death by subway train would almost be impossible if we eventually had such wall structures throughout our subway system.
I suggested it earlier this year and last year with some attention paid. But, not enough. The State and the City are duking it out about updating the infrastructure in the subway in NYC. How about getting them both to join forces to stop such needless deaths by subway trains. Let’s just get this done.
Here’s a copy of the last request to do the same. This is New York City. We can surely get it done.
Drew Kopf says:
April 30, 2017 at 11:36 pm
How can we prevent this type of incident in our subways? Here is what I suggested last year in the WSR:
Drew Kopf says:
September 15, 2016 at 11:59 pm
We could build walls along our subway and railroad station platforms with sliding doors located where the doors to the passenger cars are located. It would go a long way to keeping users safer and stop such terrible sadnesses from happening. em
Drew Kopf says:
April 30, 2017 at 11:36 pm
How can we prevent this type of incident in our subways? Here is what I suggested last year in the WSR:
Drew Kopf says:
September 15, 2016 at 11:59 pm
We could build walls along our subway and railroad station platforms with sliding doors located where the doors to the passenger cars are located. It would go a long way to keeping users safer and stop such terrible sadnesses from happening.
I too have posted a number of comments here in the past advocating for the installation of gates in the subways to prevent people falling, jumping or being thrown from the platform onto the tracks.
I have also expressed alarm at the many dangerously wide gaps that between the platforms and the cars that one must cross when boarding.
What a tragedy.
It is worth remembering that the station expansion occurred prior to the extensive building development that has taken place over the past bunch of years, opening of Trader Joe’s, Apple store etc.
72nd Street was relatively quiet until about 2009. The small corner building was torn down and replaced by luxury apt and Trader Joe’s – which is a destination shore, attracting many people.
Many more people using subway at 72nd now…