On Tuesday afternoon (December 31st), a man was fatally pushed onto the subway tracks at a station in Chelsea, Manhattan, while he was engrossed in his phone. He was then struck by an incoming train, and his condition is currently critical but stable. The police have apprehended a suspect, and the case is under further investigation. A police source revealed to the New York Post that the victim miraculously survived the incident.
The incident occurred around 1:35 p.m. on Tuesday at the 18th Street subway station. A southbound 1 train collided with a 45-year-old man.
The victim was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for emergency treatment. The motive of the suspect is still unclear, and related charges are pending further confirmation.
According to the New York Post, the chilling attack was captured on surveillance footage. The video shows the suspect pacing near the platform edge while the victim was focused on his phone. As the train entered the station, the suspect suddenly pushed the unsuspecting victim, causing him to fall onto the tracks and disappear beneath the train.
Remarkably, the victim only sustained head injuries, ultimately saving his life. An officer disclosed, “It was truly by the grace of God that he fell into the track bed groove. The victim and the suspect did not know each other nor had any prior contact.
The suspect, a 23-year-old man, fled the subway station after the incident but was arrested a few hours later near Columbus Circle. The police are currently interrogating him.
It is worth noting that this incident is just one of the recent cases of violence on the New York subway. There were two stabbing incidents last Sunday, and on December 22nd, a passenger sleeping on the Brooklyn F train was even set on fire and killed.
According to statistics from the New York City Police Department, in the 28 days leading up to last Sunday, there have been a total of 48 serious felony assaults on the New York subway system, marking a 40% increase compared to the same period last year.
The authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and have pledged to enhance subway safety patrols to ensure the security of commuters.