Escalator accident: Father-of-two dies as bystanders fail to help
A father of two has died following a horrific escalator incident at a Boston-area subway station; In the newly published images, it can be seen that passersby were unable to intervene while he was struggling.
Steven McCluskey, 40, was walking down the escalator at Davis Station in Somerville shortly before 5 a.m. on Feb. 27 when he lost his footing near the bottom.
Surveillance video released this week by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) shows McCluskey passing more than a dozen passengers as he tried to free himself without stopping to help. A man appears to watch briefly before turning away.
Mr McCluskey fell just before getting off the escalator and his coat got stuck in the machine. As she tried to unzip the dress and free herself, more and more of the fabric was catching and tightening around her neck.
After a while, he collapsed motionless on the escalator.
It took more than 20 minutes for an MBTA employee to arrive and stop the escalator, according to the Boston Globe. Emergency crews were called a short time later Boston Globe.
Police said the man was “stuck at the bottom of the escalator.”
He was found “unresponsive, bare-chested and with his clothes stuck in the escalator steps,” according to the report.
“I immediately assessed McCluskey’s pulse and detected no pulse,” the report said.
First responders administered Narcan and performed multiple CPR, and his breathing eventually returned to normal.
McCluskey was hospitalized and remained in a coma for 10 days before dying from his injuries on March 9.
His sister, Shannon Flaherty, said he faced challenges in recent years but remained committed to his loved ones.
“He did his best every day to reach the people he loved in any way he could,” he told NBC Boston.
Mr. McCluskey worked as a carpenter and was a devoted father to his two sons, according to his obituary. Daily Mail.
“He loved creating things and enjoyed seeing a job from start to finish,” he said. “Above all, he loved being a father to his two sons, Shayne and Steven, who meant the world to him.”
The MBTA called the incident a “terrible accident” and urged the public to take action in an emergency.
“It is important for the public to know that anyone can stop the escalator in an emergency by pressing the red button labeled ‘STOP’ located at the top and bottom of each escalator,” the statement said.
“They should also call 911 immediately. MBTA staff respond quickly to all emergencies and do whatever they can to assist individuals and secure the situation.”
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Mr McCluskey’s family called on transport authorities to accept responsibility.
“And instead of saying the MBTA did nothing wrong, being able to say they failed him,” Shannon said. “That’s the main thing I don’t want.”
