Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Man Killed By A Train While Trying To Retrieve Cell Phone


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 23, 2011

Modified Jul 23, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 23, 2011

Modified Jul 23, 2011


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A man who lept onto the subway tracks to retrieve his cellphone was struck and killed yesterday by a southbound A train at the 14th Street station at 8th Avenue. 60-year-old Vit Lukacik of Queens was hit around 3:20 p.m. and police sources told DNAinfo that that he "didn't realize how close the train was." Lukacik was pronounced dead at the scene, and service was restored a little more than an hour later. The Post denotes the 14th Street A,C,E station as being in Greenwich Village, while DNAinfo states that it's in Chelsea.

In 2004 a woman died after she attempted to pick up her cellphone in the path of a V train, and in 2009 a man was struck and killed by a B train after he dropped his MP3 player in the train's path. If you drop something on the tracks, leave it and ask the MTA for assistance.

Tagged

14 street station

a train

cell phones

Chelsea

greenwich village

MTA


Christopher Robbins

Twitter

Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NYC’s subsidized childcare waitlist is moving, starting with 3K families

The city notified 3,000 families on the waitlist that they were eligible for a voucher.

By

Karen Yi

Published Oct 21, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET


Elon Musk drops $500K on NY Rep. Mike Lawler's re-election bid

The world’s richest person is spending on dozens of races across the country, but only one in the Empire State.

By

Jon Campbell

News

Elon Musk drops $500K on NY Rep. Mike Lawler's re-election bid

The world’s richest person is spending on dozens of races across the country, but only one in the Empire State.

By

Jon Campbell


Early Addition: If you catch a mouse, there are meaner options than feeding it to a bird

By

James Ramsay

Brad Lander says he's released after Israeli forces detained him during olive harvest

By

Ryan Kost

George Washington Bridge reopens after fatal shooting; no arrests made

By

Ryan Kost


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .