A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday on the Metro Red Line tracks near Universal City, resulting in the death of a 30-year-old man. NBC Los Angeles reports that the individual was electrocuted after falling onto the tracks in a tunnel between Universal City and North Hollywood. Transit Service Officers had tried to detain him for trespassing on the Universal Platform. When a forceful confrontation occurred, the man fled into the tunnel.
Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tony Im told NBC Los Angeles that they were called to the scene at the Lankershim Boulevard intersection shortly before 3 p.m. Emergency services, attempting to quickly offer support, found the man unconscious and not breathing. Despite trains in the area being electric-powered, there was no evidence that the man had been struck by one of the trains. Officer Im remarked, "He was in a place where he should not be."
The Los Angeles Fire Department alerted the public to the incident with information that firefighters located the victim in the tunnel. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the situation then was turned over to law enforcement and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner to investigate further. Details on how this incident will affect Red Line service are as yet unknown, and no further details have been provided at this point.
Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo expressed condolences for the man's death, and used the moment to remind the public about rail safety. "Metro expresses its sympathy for the tragic death that occurred in a cross passage between the North Hollywood and University City stations on the B Line this afternoon," Ubaldo said. He emphasized the importance for passengers to never walk on train tracks and to always stand behind the yellow line at station platforms, look and listen for trains from both directions and to not run to catch a train. With this accident, the importance of strict adherence to transit safety rules has been sharply underscored once more.
