Transient Woman Arrested After Pushing Man Onto BART Tracks

BERKELEY, CA – Bay Area Rapid Transit Police on Tuesday arrested a 34-year-old woman on attempted murder charges after she intentionally pushed a man onto the tracks as a train was approaching the Berkeley station on Monday night, police said.

Roli Okoropudu, a transient, has been booked into Santa Rita jail on attempted murder and probation violation charges. According to BART police, Okoropudu was observed sleeping on a street-level bench near Downtown Berkeley Station Tuesday morning. Believing she matched the description in a flyer sent out by BART Police, informants told BART Police and officers responded and took her into custody about 8:35 a.m.

On Monday night, the man whom Okoropudu pushed onto the tracks walked down the stairs to the platform of the Berkeley station. The suspect, who was lying on a bench on the platform, appears to have suddenly leapt to her feet and pushed the victim with both hands as a three-door Richmond bound train entered the station at 9:18 p.m.

A BART Police spokesman said that officials believe the two people did not know each other.

The distance from the platform to the trackway is about five feet. The victim was able to squeeze between the train and the platform to avoid being struck by the train. The train operator was able to get the victim onto the train via a train car door.

The victim was examined for a minor ankle injury as a result of being pushed onto the track. A search of the station and the surrounding area for the suspect was conducted with negative results. The victim declined further medical treatment and was transported to his residence by the BART Police Department.