Man hit by BART train alive and conscious
on April 14, 2011
A 43-year-old man who was hit Tuesday night by a train pulling into the Rockridge BART station is alive and conscious but not able to speak to an investigating officer, BART Deputy Chief Communications Officer James Allison said today.
The man, whose identity has not been released, is still being treated at Highland Hospital.
Allison said that the investigating officer does not believe that the man was trying to commit suicide. At the same time, Allison said, it was still too early to give definite answers since speaking to the man will be a key component of the investigation. It’s also unclear, Allison said, whether the man will be charged with any crimes.
Passengers on board the Pittsburg/Bay Point-bound train reported that when it stopped, the train’s operator asked them to leave the train because of a medical emergency.
Michael Green, a passenger traveling with his girlfriend, said that the train stopped, briefly moved forward again, and then stopped completely.
BART Police officers collecting evidence Tuesday night at the Rockridge BART station.
“The lights were switched off and we were asked to get off the train,” Green said.
After an approximately 30-minute rescue operation, the Rockridge station reopened Tuesday at 10:50 p.m. As trains moving in both directions were forced to take turns passing the Rockridge station on one remaining track, BART continued to suffer delays on the Pittsburg/Bay Point line until 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
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