Young mother holding baby in stroller dies after falling down subway stairs

INQUIRER.net stock photo

A woman died on the New York subway after she fell down the stairs while carrying her one-year-old daughter’s stroller on Monday, Jan. 28,

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Malaysia Goodson, was found unconscious at the southbound platform of the 7th Avenue BDE station of the subway. She was pronounced dead on arrival when rushed to the hospital, as per WNBC New York.

Meanwhile, Goodson’s daughter Rhylee was found unhurt and was left to her father.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said it is still unclear if Goodson had a medical episode or if she accidentally fell down the stairs.

Goodson’s mother, Tamika, expressed grief and shock over the sudden death of her daughter. “I don’t know which way to go,” she was quoted in the report.

New York’s Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) issued a statement on Goodson’s death, saying that it was a “heartbreaking tragedy” and that they, the NYPD and the medical examiner’s office have launched an investigation.

MTA officials found that the subway elevator and stairs were in good condition. However, a study titled “Bringing Innovation to Paratransit” — by the New York University-Wagner’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management — found that of all the 472 subway stations, only 25 percent are considered wheelchair-accessible, which means that only this percentage has elevator access to the mezzanines and platforms.

Bill de Blasio, New York City mayor, also commented on the young mother’s death via Twitter. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy that never should have happened,” he said. “The subway system is not accessible for everyone and that’s an environment the MTA should not allow.” Katrina Hallare/JB

RELATED STORIES:

Man makes citizen’s arrest on white woman for racial attack on subway riders

Storm-crippled NYC subway creaks back to life