Community Mourns Man After Fatal MBTA Escalator Accident: Report

The man died in February after complications from the incident.

By Benjamin Pierce, no role

Jun 2, 2026 7:12 pm EDT | Updated Jun 2, 2026 7:15 pm EDT

SOMERVILLE, MA — The community gathered Sunday to remember a South Boston father and carpenter who died after becoming trapped in an MBTA escalator earlier this year, according to a report from NBC 10 Boston.

Friends, family members and supporters held a memorial for Steven McCluskey, 40, whose death at Davis Square Station in Somerville sparked widespread attention and renewed questions about public safety and emergency response on the MBTA.

McCluskey was injured on Feb. 27 after falling at the bottom of a moving escalator at the station. Surveillance video obtained by NBC Boston showed that more than 20 minutes passed before an MBTA employee stopped the escalator. McCluskey's clothing became caught in the machinery, restricting his airway. He was freed by first responders and taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he died 10 days later.

McCluskey operated his own home improvement business and was remembered by loved ones as a skilled carpenter who enjoyed helping others. His family has continued to seek answers about the circumstances surrounding his death and the response at the station.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office is investigating the incident. MBTA officials have described the death as a "terrible accident" and have emphasized that emergency stop buttons are located at the top and bottom of escalators for use during emergencies.