News

Man struck by train at Potomac Yard Metro dies, was being chased

By James Cullum
Police are seen outside Potomac Yard Metro station following an incident that has suspended train service between National Airport and King Street stations. (staff photo by James Cullum)

The man who was struck by a train at the Potomac Yard Metro station on Sept. 22 succumbed to his injuries that evening at George Washington University Hospital, according to the Alexandria Police Department.

Metro Transit Police said at the time that the man trespassed onto the tracks, and an investigation has found that he was being chased by two alleged fare evaders, a 17-year-old female and an 18-year-old female, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

The incident occurred at around 3:15 p.m., after the man walked through the fare gates, and then forced the gates behind him to close so that he would not be followed. The man who was later struck was then chased and followed into a Metro train and back to the platform where the teenagers were both recorded by video surveillance “physically striking the victim,” according to the search warrant affidavit.

“In an apparent attempt to escape his assailants, the victim entered the train tracks,” police said in the search warrant affidavit. “The victim stepped over the electrified third rail of ‘track 1’ and then over the electrified third rail of ‘track 2’ where a train was stopped. The victim then walked toward the front of the train, and as he stepped in front of the train, out of view of the train operator, the train moved forward. The victim was struck by the train.”

The injured man was transported to George Washington University Hospital. Rail service between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and King Street was suspended for about 30 minutes, and Metro offered bus service to affected travelers.

Suspected fare evaders captured chasing a man, who later tried to elude them by jumping onto the tracks of the Potomac Yard Metro station before being struck by a train (via MTPD)

The man succumbed to his injuries that same evening, according to the search warrant affidavit.

The teens have not been arrested and are being investigated for assault and battery charges, according to the search warrant affidavit.

ALXnow has reached out to Metro Transit Police for more on this incident.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.