Manhattan

MTA Probes ‘Horrible, Uncommon' Death of Subway Rider in Manhattan

"According to video of the incident it looks like she's being dragged," an NYPD spokesperson said

What to Know

  • The MTA says it is investigating the death of a subway rider who made contact with the side of a moving train in Manhattan over the weekend
  • It happened at the Union Square station; the MTA said; the victim apparently made contact with the car after it already traveled 100 feet
  • The Wall Street Journal identified the victim as 21-year-old Helen McDonald-Phalon and said it happened on the No. 6 line

The MTA says it is investigating the "horrible and very uncommon" death of a woman who died after apparently making contact with the side of a moving train in Manhattan over the weekend. 

According to authorities, the woman, identified by the Wall Street Journal as 21-year-old aspiring actress Helen McDonald-Phalon, was on an uncrowded Union Square platform around 3 a.m. Saturday when she made contact with the train. 

It appears the train had already been moving for more than 100 feet when she touched it, officials said.

The NYPD, which is also investigating, told News 4 the train apparently dragged the woman into the tunnel after she made contact with it. A second train came close to hitting her but the conductor saw what was happening and stopped. 

"She is not the victim of a crime," the NYPD said. "According to video of the incident it looks like she's being dragged." 

Transit authorities provided different information, though, saying preliminary information indicates "it does not appear to be a side door drag," but the matter remains under investigating.  

According to The Journal, McDonald-Phalon had moved to the city from South Carolina to fasttrack her acting career. Her mother, Ann McDonald-Phalon, told the paper she worked at a Manhattan tech firm and recently moved to Brooklyn.

"She was an amazing, beautiful light and I'm devastated," the mother told The Journal.  

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