Train death a suicide
A black ski glove and blood-spattered dirt were all that remained on the Market-Frankford tracks in 30th Street Station where a man died yesterday afternoon after being struck by a train in what police say was a suicide.
A black ski glove and blood-spattered dirt were all that remained on the Market-Frankford tracks in 30th Street Station where a man died yesterday afternoon after being struck by a train in what police say was a suicide.
The man, who had not yet been identified, appeared to be in his 50s. He was dressed in old sneakers, a green jacket and blue jeans. Police believe that he was homeless. He stepped in front of an oncoming westbound Market-Frankford train as it was pulling into the station, police said.
The incident took place at 3:27 p.m., said Richard Maloney, SEPTA spokesman. Market-Frankford trains and trolley service were suspended until about 5:45 p.m. while his body was extracted from underneath the train.
Louis Bozzi, 30, was in the station when it happened, waiting to catch a train to visit a friend in West Philadelphia. "He stepped right in the middle of the tracks."
The cause of death was severe head trauma, police said.
Troy Marshall, 14, of 68th Street near Lansdowne Avenue, was waiting outside the station with his nephew Brahim (who is also 14). The train stopped before it had fully come into the station, he said.
"The lights cut off, and the next thing, [a SEPTA worker] was on the train. . . . She said someone was under there."
"When I heard, my heart dropped" Marshall said.
Staff Writer Kitty Caparella contributed to this report.