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Woman survives fall into train pit at North Station

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 7, 2009 08:25 PM

By John M. Guilfoil, Globe Staff

A woman who was allegedly highly intoxicated survived a close call Friday night when she fell off an Orange Line platform onto the tracks below at North Station, in the path of an arriving subway train, transit police said.

Three transit police officers on patrol because of the nearby Boston Celtics game found a chaotic scene just before 11 p.m., with some bystanders flagging down the approaching train and others working to pull the woman out of the pit.

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said the train “came to a stop just inches away” from the woman. The train operator later told her supervisor she saw them waving and "knew something was wrong,” he said.

Pesaturo said the woman's life had been saved by the bystanders who had waved at the train and the quick action of the operator.

"It turned out well for everyone," Pesaturo said. "So we're grateful for it."

He discouraged civilians from climbing into the train pit, however, noting the dangers of the 600-volt third rail.

The woman, who was not named, had scraped knees but was otherwise all right. She told police she had been drinking for several hours before the incident. She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation and treatment.

John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com

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