A 49-year-old man died on Christmas Day after attempting to smoke a cigarette between moving subway cars on New York City's Upper East Side, according to law enforcement officials. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on the northbound No. 6 train as it was traveling between the 68th St-Hunter College and 77th St. stations. The man reportedly lost his balance and fell onto the tracks, where he was struck by the train. Medics responded to the scene and pronounced him dead, the NYPD confirmed.
The New York Daily News reports that the victim was in the act of lighting the cigarette on the gangway connecting two subway cars when the accident occurred, ultimately leading to service disruptions along the line. The NYPD has withheld the man's identity as they await to notify next of kin.
Additionally, the New York Post described the incident as a "gruesome Christmas night mishap" that unfolded near the 77th Street and 6th Avenue station. Sources familiar with the investigation said that the man was "puffing away" when he fell. A formal investigation into the incident is ongoing, with transit safety likely to be a focus in the aftermath of the incident.
