The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has reached a settlement agreement with the family of Robinson Lalin, who was tragically killed after being dragged by a Red Line train last year. The family will be awarded $5 million, finalizing the wrongful death lawsuit which accused the MBTA of negligence leading up to Lalin's death in April 2022, as reported by CBS News Boston.
Details of the incident, as noted by Boston.com, reveal that Lalin had been attempting to exit a Red Line train at the Broadway Station when his arm became trapped in the door, subsequently dragging him over 100 feet along the platform. The train slammed shut on Lalin's upper body and arm, leaving witnesses to witness his futile attempts to attract the attention of the oblivious train operator. He was 39 years old at the time and left behind two children.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed a series of failures, including a crucial short circuit with a safety feature that was supposed to prevent the train from moving with the doors open. This malfunction contributed to the accident that took Lalin's life. The NTSB also indicated that a camera monitor used by the operator had a blind spot and that the train operator violated safety protocols by not keeping a visual on the platform until the pilot lights above the doors indicated it was safe to depart.
According to court filings obtained by CBS News Boston, the lawsuit claimed Lalin "experienced great pain of body and anguish of mind resulting in his conscious pain and suffering prior to his death." This tragedy took place on a car that was among the 68 Red Line cars introduced in 1969 that the federal agency found the MBTA failed to replace timely due to delays, despite being slated for replacement by 1994.
In the aftermath of his uncle's death, Kelvin, Lalin's nephew, started a public display of grief and protest, wearing a photo of Robinson around his neck and holding a sign at the Broadway Station, criticizing the MBTA's safety practices. Robinson Lalin's estate, represented by Christopher, Kelvin, and Robinson's teenaged daughter, will evenly split the settlement, as reported by Boston.com.
