What to Know
- A 53-year-old MTA worker was struck and killed by a G train around midnight Thursday, police said
- The man was with a second worker, who was also struck and injured
- The two men were setting up a track area for overnight repairs when the train hit them
One MTA worker died and a second MTA worker was hospitalized in serious but stable condition after a G train traveled around a curve at some tracks they were working on in Brooklyn, pinning them both, officials said.
The two workers were in a tunnel between the Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue stations setting up a track area for overnight repairs when they were struck by the southbound G train shortly after midnight, the MTA said.
A third worker with the men was not hit by the train.
Police said 53-year-old Louis Gray was the MTA worker who died. He was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition and ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Officials said it appears he went into cardiac arrest.
His fellow train workers heard the 30-year veteran worker yelling "I can't breathe" before he died, according to John Samuelson, his union president.
"This is a heartbreaking moment for us," he said.
Jeffrey Fleming, 49, was the other MTA worker hit, according to police. He suffered injuries to his torso and was taken to New York Methodist Hospital in stable condition.
Local
An MTA worker said that the men were "flaggers" and that they go into the subway with lanterns to light the way before repairs begin.
Because the accident happened in the tunnel between two subway stops, emergency crews had to use an emergency exit – a nondescript gate above ground - to get to both victims.
“Difficult and unusual, unorthodox type of rescue, and they were able to extricate them as quickly as possible,” FDNY Deputy Chief Stephen Morow said.
F and G train service was disrupted following the accident. Service resumed with delays around 2:45 a.m. Thursday.
New York City Transit said it is investigating.
"We extend our deep felt condolences today. The safety of all our workers is paramount," NYCT President Ronnie Hakim said in a statement. "All safety standards are being reviewed with employees and a "safety stand down" order - requiring all non-emergency track work to cease - has been issued while an investigation is underway."
But Samuelson said that more needs to be done to protect workers on the tracks.
"When you're on a curve in the subway the line of sight of the train operator is obscured and the line of sight of the workers is obscured so this is kind of a perfect storm of problems," he said.
