A 45-year-old man was critically injured but survived after being pushed onto the subway tracks in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred at approximately 1:35 PM ET at the 18th Street subway station in Chelsea, several blocks west of Union Square. Video footage captured a man approaching the victim from behind and shoving him onto the tracks just as a southbound train entered the station. The victim sustained injuries to his head and leg and was transported to Bellevue Hospital in critical but stable condition.
The NYPD has one man in custody as a person of interest, though charges have yet to be filed, according to spokesperson Austin Glickman. Southbound service on the line was suspended for approximately an hour to allow for the victim’s rescue and the investigation. Service was fully restored by 4:00 PM ET. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority confirmed the service disruption.
This incident follows another act of violence on the city’s subway system less than two weeks prior. On December 22nd, 57-year-old Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey, died after being set on fire while asleep on a stationary Brooklyn F train. Sebastián Zapeta has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death. Prosecutors allege Zapeta ignited Kawam’s clothing and fanned the flames.
While overall subway safety is generally comparable to the safety of the city itself, recent life-threatening crimes, including stabbings and assaults like this week’s incident and a fatal shoving in March in East Harlem, have raised concerns. Although NYPD figures show a decrease in major subway crimes through November compared to the same period last year, homicides on the subway system rose from five to nine during that time. The sheer volume of riders—over 1 billion this year—amplifies the impact of even isolated incidents. The Associated Press contributed to this report.