Subway Safety: Victims Speak Out on Lack of Protection.
As subway ridership continues to increase, so too does the risk of accidents and injuries on New York City’s public transit system. One such incident occurred on May 21, 2023 at around 6 a.m. when Queens artist Emine Yilmaz Ozsoy was left with a broken neck and paralyzed from the chest down after being pushed into a departing F train at the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station. The attacker, who remains at large, is believed to be mentally unstable.
Ozsoy’s case against the city and the MTA argues that they have failed to take steps to protect subway passengers from this “known problem” of criminal and mentally unstable individuals pushing others into or in front of moving trains. In particular, Ozsoy contends that no platform barriers have been installed and there is no plan in place to prevent or reduce the frequency or severity of injuries sustained by people on the platform who are pushed onto the tracks.
Since 2020, at least 54 individuals have died after being shoved onto subway tracks. In light of this alarming statistic, many victims and their families are calling for increased safety measures in New York City’s subway system. Some proposals include installing platform barriers and implementing stricter security protocols to prevent mentally unstable individuals from accessing the platforms.
In addition to her ongoing legal battle with the city and the MTA, Ozsoy is seeking unspecified damages for the attack that left her paralyzed. She has also sued the train conductor for operating the locomotive at an excessive rate of speed and accused the EMTs who responded that day of failing to properly stabilize her neck and back as they got her out of the station and into the hospital.
Kamal Semrade, 39, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault charges for allegedly shoving Ozsoy. The criminal case is pending. The MTA and the city Law Department have declined comment on this issue. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of subway passengers in New York City.
As the debate over safety measures continues, one thing remains certain: subway riders deserve better protection from known dangers. The city and the MTA must act swiftly to implement new safeguards and barriers for people waiting on subway platforms, as well as address any deficiencies in their current security protocols.
With each passing day, more lives are put at risk by the lack of proper safety measures in place within the New York City public transit system. It is time for city officials and the MTA to take responsibility for their shortcomings and prioritize the well-being of the millions of people who rely on these services every day.
