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[UPDATE] Man Killed By L Train At Union Square, Service Partially Suspended
By
John Del Signore
Published May 16, 2012
Modified May 16, 2012
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The L train platform at Third Avenue this morning, courtesy Benjamin Brunning.
By
John Del Signore
Published May 16, 2012
Modified May 16, 2012
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We're getting a flood of reports about problems on the L train this morning, and it turns out the cause of the delays is as dreadful as one might suspect. An MTA spokesman confirms that an unidentified person was struck at Union Square by an 8th Ave bound L train. The MTA says that as of 9:50 a.m., they're running one track operation on the L between Bedford and 8th Ave. There are currently unconfirmed reports that the person was killed.
One tipster who was apparently on the train tells us, "The L train coming into Manhattan about 9 minutes ago felt like it hit and ran over something or part derailed. They let us off one door on our car but when I looked back at the rest of train people were still on. We were in the 2nd car from the front."
We'll update as more information becomes available.
Update 9:58 p.m.: An FDNY spokesman confirms the person under the train was an unidentified male, pronounced dead on arrival.
Update 11:06 a.m.: A witness who was on the train tells us the conductor said the victim was urinating on the tracks when the L came into Union Square.
As aggravating as the MTA can be, perhaps it's worth keeping in mind that sometimes train delays are caused by something even worse than your personal inconvenience:
FUCKING L TRAIN!!!! New York welcomes me back from vacation in its own special way.
— becky case (@beckycase) May 16, 2012
The L train WOULD fatally malfunction while I'm on the way to graduation. #istheLtrainfucked #yes#yes#athousandtimesyes
— Lauren Leibowitz (@elesel) May 16, 2012
To my fellow Manhattan-bound brooklynites: the L train has done it again. Make other plans #srgfhnkgfhtschg #arfhhjgfhngh #argh
— Nicki Shamel (@nickishamel) May 16, 2012
THE L TRAIN IS SUCH A JOKE
— Corrina K. (@corrinakirbs) May 16, 2012
Tagged
l train
MTA
subway
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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