NEW YORK CITY, NY – Tragedy struck in Jackson Heights, Queens, early Tuesday morning when an 18-year-old girl fainted and fell onto the subway tracks, leading to a fatal collision with an oncoming train. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street station. Authorities reported that the young woman suffered a medical episode, which caused her to collapse onto the tracks.
After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators concluded that the girl’s death was not considered suspicious. The President of the New York City Transit Authority, Richard Davey, expressed his condolences, stating, “Our hearts and our prayers from the New York City Transit family go out to her family. By all accounts, this was just a tragic accident that sadly occurred today, no criminality at all. Any time we lose a young New Yorker, 18 years old, it’s a moment that I think we all take to cherish our families and our own lives.”
In a solemn scene, members of the NYPD and the medical examiner’s office carefully removed the girl’s body from the subway tracks, while passengers on the platform observed in silence. One subway rider shared their experience, saying that it was the first time he’s seen a deceased body and that it was a shocking sight.
The tragic event disrupted subway service for several hours as police conducted their investigation. However, train services have since resumed their normal schedules.