MTA flagger Moet McCullum killed by D train in Bronx
Moet McCullum, a 41-year-old MTA construction flagger, was struck and killed by a southbound D train near the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station in the Bronx late Thursday night. The incident, which occurred just after 11:30 p.m., is the second fatal flagger accident in three years, prompting immediate safety retraining and a National Transportation Safety Board investigation.
Key points
- Moet McCullum, 41, died after being hit by a D train at 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station just after 11:30 p.m. on Thursday.
- McCullum was a construction flagger with 11 months of experience, tasked with warning trains of workers on the tracks.
- The MTA pulled all flaggers off the tracks for 24 hours for safety retraining following the incident.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate the accident.
- This is the second fatal flagger incident in three years, following the 2023 death of Hilarion Joseph.
Background
The 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station is located in the Bronx, near the Macombs Dam Park area, which has faced recent scrutiny for disrepair and community neglect. While the station itself is a transit hub, the surrounding area has been a focus of local development and safety concerns.
How outlets are covering it
News 12 and The New York Times reported the basic facts of the incident, including the time, location, and McCullum's role as a flagger. Gothamist provided additional details from an internal report, stating that McCullum 'froze' when a supervisor warned of an approaching train, and that the train operator claimed not to see warning lights. The New York Daily News emphasized the broader safety context, noting that McCullum was setting up flags between 167th and 161st Streets and that the MTA had previously appealed a Federal Transit Administration report criticizing its safety record. All outlets highlighted the union's response and the NTSB investigation.
Why it matters
The death of another flagger with minimal experience highlights ongoing safety concerns in the MTA's track work operations. It underscores the risks faced by transit workers and the need for improved safety protocols and oversight, especially given previous federal directives for the MTA to address near-miss incidents.
What to watch
The NTSB will investigate the accident to determine the root cause. The MTA has already implemented a 24-hour pause on flagger work for retraining. The union and MTA leadership are expected to continue advocating for safer working conditions and improved safety measures for track workers.
- MTA track worker dead after being hit by train at 161st Street-Yankee Stadium News12 | Bronx
- M.T.A. Employee Struck and Killed While Working on the Subway Tracks The New York Times
- MTA worker, mom of 3, fatally struck by oncoming train while working on NYC subway tracks New York Post
- MTA worker killed by D train near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx Gothamist
- MTA track worker killed on Bronx subway tracks by oncoming train nydailynews.com
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