Yaw Boahene, a 57-year-old man, died after being dragged and run over by a New York City Subway train during Monday Evening's rush hour. The Brooklyn resident was allegedly exiting a train at a Brooklyn subway station on 28 September, when his bag snagged in the doors.
Officers responding to the incident found Boahene 'unconscious and unresponsive' on the tracks. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The city's medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death, while the police investigation remains ongoing.
Bag Became Caught in Train Doors
Boahene was departing a northbound A train at the Utica Avenue station in Brooklyn on Monday between 5:48 PM and 6:00 PM when the incident occurred. According to police, the victim's bag became caught in the doors, and Boahene was dragged as the train departed. Police added that the train ran over him as it left the station.
A 911 caller also reported seeing Boahene being dragged after his bag became caught in the train door, according to the call log.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates New York City's subway system, said both the train operator and conductor were removed from service following the incident. According to the agency, the removals are routine while the investigation continues and don't indicate any wrongdoing.
Witnesses Recount the Incident
Gabriel Broadus, who was also heading home when the incident occurred, spoke with a local news outlet, stating that part of the conductor's job is to make sure anyone doesn't end up in that type of situation. 'That's the whole thing; they do a little thumbs up; that's what's supposed to happen. And that didn't happen,' she added.
Broadus also stated that there was no one to turn to as the accident was happening. She added that the police can come as quickly as they can, but wouldn't be much help when they arrive, as the train would already be at Nostrand Avenue at that point.
Meanwhile, an unnamed female witness told WABC, 'There were people screaming within the train and then also people screaming on the platform.' She went on to say how 'super traumatic' it was, and that the conductor appeared not to notice what had happened.
'They kept moving towards Nostrand Avenue, although the person had already died,' the female witness stated.
No Mechanical Problems Were Found
The MTA also said the train involved was one of the newest models in its fleet. It was inspected after Boahene's death and had previously been inspected in July. No mechanical issues were found during either inspection.
Meanwhile, the medical examiner has yet to determine the official cause of death. The police investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish exactly how the bag became caught and how Boahene ended up on the tracks.
The death is not the first fatal incident involving an item becoming caught in a New York subway train door. In 2022, a 20-year-old commuter was killed after his backpack, or a piece of his clothing, got stuck in the door while he was trying to board a train at Columbus Circle station in upper Manhattan.
