Massachusetts dad dies after getting stuck in escalator as passers-by refuse to render aid
Context:
A Massachusetts father died after becoming trapped in an escalator at the MBTA’s Davis Station in Somerville, while bystanders largely ignored him. Surveillance shows him struggling for minutes before an emergency stop was finally activated and responders reached him; he later died after a coma. The incident raises questions about bystander intervention and the MBTA’s emergency responsiveness. An ongoing DA investigation and MBTA statements frame the event as a tragic accident with potential lapses in immediate aid. The case underscores safety responsibilities around public transit escalators and what steps might follow to prevent recurrence.
Dive Deeper:
Steven McCluskey, 40, was fatally injured after losing balance at the bottom of an escalator and becoming entangled in clothing at the MBTA Davis Station in Somerville on February 27.
Surveillance footage reviewed by NBC 10 Boston shows McCluskey frantically attempting to free himself while bystanders largely passed by or showed only brief glances, with roughly a dozen people not assisting.
It took 18 minutes before someone called 911, and an MBTA employee arrived and activated the emergency stop, with responders taking 22 minutes to make contact with McCluskey.
First responders found McCluskey without a pulse; his throat and back were constricted by the escalator mechanism, and he required 30 minutes to be freed before being transported to a hospital where he fell into a coma and died 10 days later.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office indicated an investigation is ongoing, while the MBTA described the death as a terrible accident and asserted that personnel react swiftly to emergencies.
Experts cited by NBC 10 suggested possible duty breaches by the MBTA to act immediately when a person is known to be in danger, highlighting concerns about escalator safety and emergency response protocols.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of public-space safety and bystander responsibility, with implications for transit authorities and potential policy or procedural reviews to prevent similar outcomes in the future.