Man Dies In Brooklyn Subway Door Accident

BROOKLYN, NY— A man died Monday evening after his backpack became caught in the closing doors of an A train in Brooklyn, dragging him between subway cars and onto the tracks, according to the New York Police Department.

The train pulled away at 5:48 p.m. from the Utica Avenue station as the man tried to exit, police said.

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His backpack became lodged in the doors, and the train dragged him between the cars before he fell onto the tracks.

He died at the scene.

Police did not immediately identify him. He was an adult.

Door-dragging incidents have been documented in New York's subway system for decades.

A federal safety investigation found about 90 such incidents each year beginning in 1988, while 37 people were dragged by departing trains in 1987 alone.

With new technology and changing safety systems, door-dragging incidents have declined, though current data does not provide a directly comparable annual count.

In 2022, a 20-year-old New Jersey man died at Columbus Circle after his clothing or backpack became caught in the doors of a southbound No. 1 train, dragging him onto the tracks, according to police.