Man Fatally Struck, Trapped Under MTA Train at Shot Tower Station

A man was struck and became trapped beneath an MTA Metro subway car at Shot Tower Station on the 700 block of East Baltimore Street and died after rescue crews freed him, officials said. Baltimore City Fire Department personnel and MTA crews worked at the scene near Port Discovery Children’s Museum as police officers and transit safety staff secured the station.

“Baltimore City Fire Department personnel were called to the 700 block of East Baltimore Street at Shot Tower Station around 2:15 p.m. to rescue a man who had been struck by an MTA train, spokesperson John Marsh said in an email,” The Baltimore Banner reported. CBS summarized the response this way: “A man is dead after Baltimore Fire officials said he was struck by an MTA train and became trapped Tuesday afternoon.”

Firefighters and MTA staff extricated the man from beneath the subway car and began life-saving treatment, but he did not survive. “They were able to free him and begin treatment, but officials say the man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s, died at the scene,” WEAA reported. CBS and WBAL likewise noted crews provided immediate medical care before the man was pronounced dead at the station.

MTA Police are leading the active investigation into the incident while Baltimore Police Department officers were also on scene. FOX45 reported that “Baltimore Police were initially investigating this as a homicide, but preliminary investigation indicated that the man accidentally fell onto the tracks, authorities confirmed. MTA Police will continue investigating the incident.” No name or next-of-kin information has been released and no medical examiner ruling has been reported.

Shot Tower Station’s entryway near Port Discovery showed visible disruption during the response: The Banner said station escalators were stopped, a door was sealed shut, and the opposite entryway was marked with yellow tape while about half a dozen Baltimore Police officers and several MTA safety personnel lingered. The Banner added that some workers and students in the area had to find alternate routes because of the closure.

The Metro SubwayLink station was temporarily closed for rescue and investigation work and MTA service adjustments followed. “According to MTA officials, a bus bridge was put in place between Lexington Market and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Service delays are expected,” CBS reported. No timetable for restoring normal train operations has been released.

Officials have not released the victim’s identity, a cause of death pending medical examiner review, or whether station video captured the incident. MTA Police continue their investigation and city agencies have said they will provide updates when additional information, including any official determinations from the medical examiner, becomes available.