A man and a woman were killed after being struck by a New York City subway train while sitting on the tracks at a station in Manhattan. The victims were identified as Kaul Navam and Malaika Chitre, both 24 years old. The accident occurred around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday when the No. 4 train was approaching the station.
According to witnesses cited by the New York Post, the couple appeared not to notice the imminent danger. There are indications that both could have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which would have caused them to notice too late the arrival of the high-speed train. At the moment of impact, Malaika apparently tried to pull Kaul toward her, as if intending to remove him from the vehicle's path.
Police continue investigating how the two victims ended up on the tracks and why they did not return to the platform. Preliminary reports suggest that one of the victims may have fallen onto the tracks first and the other went down to provide assistance, which would explain the presence of both in the dangerous area.
The MTA, the agency responsible for operating the New York City subway system, reported that the train conductor said she saw the woman on the tracks moments before the accident. The case draws attention to the risks of remaining in unauthorized areas of subway stations.
