Date: September 20th, 2020 2:54 PM
Author: Autistic Home
https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-train-derails-after-unhinged-straphanger-throws-object-onto-tracks-20200920-gdtnd5ngkfcuhoeq566csuxx3i-story.html
A Manhattan subway train derailed Sunday morning after a laughing homeless saboteur tossed metal clamps onto the roadbed, police sources said.
The uptown A train was entering the 14th St./Eighth Ave. station in the West Village at 8:17 a.m. when it ran into the metal tie plates, also known as D plates, about 50 feet into the station. The tie plates are normally used to secure tracks to the roadbed, officials said.
The first subway car derailed, with at least one wheel leaving the tracks, and sideswiped seven metal columns separating the track beds.
The homeless man found the tie plates in a pile of construction materials at the station, sources said. MTA workers have been told in the past not to leave materials near tracks or in reach of straphangers, according to police sources.
A straphanger saw the homeless man throw the ties into the tracks and went down onto the roadbed to remove them — but the deranged man picked them up again and threw them back on the tracks as the train was pulling into the station, sources said.
Commuters saw the 30-year-old suspect laughing at his accomplishment, sources said. Good Samaritans held him at the station until cops took him into custody and brought him to Transit District 2 headquarters for questioning. No charges were immediately filed.
The train ended up stuck about 100 feet into the Eighth Ave. tunnel. A section of sheet metal on the front car was sheered off upon striking the pillars.
First responders evacuated about 135 people from the train, who were all able to exit onto the tracks from one of the rear train cars.
Three passengers suffered minor injuries. One refused medical attention. Another was treated at the scene while the third was taken to Bellevue Hospital for further treatment, officials said.
About 300 feet of the third rail collapsed during the derailment, knocking out power to all four tracks in the station. Another 200 feet of track was also badly damaged.
An uptown train got stuck in the tunnel near 34th St. due to the loss of power stemming from the derailment. About 125 people were on board.
A rescue train pulled up along adjacent tracks, and a plank was set up between the two trains and the straphangers were evacuated, MTA officials said at a press conference.
“We’ve ruled out that this was any malfunction of our equipment or any inappropriate action of our crews,” said MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren.
The saboteur is not known for any previous derailments but has a litany of arrests both in and outside train stations, according to police sources.
Counter-terror units in the NYPD conducted an investigation but do not believe the act was linked to any type of protest or terrorism, sources said.
Service on the A line was suspended in both directions south of 14th St., and uptown service was knocked out from Canal St. to 59th St-Columbus Circle.
All uptown A, C, D, E and F trains are being rerouted, causing extensive delays in Manhattan.
MTA officials said they aim to get the tracks fixed by rush hour Monday morning but will immediately restore local service on C and E trains along Eighth Ave., skipping 14th St. station.
A track derailment in 2017, caused by a rail improperly attached to the road bed, hurt 39 straphangers and cost the MTA $3.4 million.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4629173&forum_id=2#40954711)