Day in and day out, we experience close shaves with life-threatening situations. Some are lucky to get out unscathed, while it’s far from that for others. This Boston commuter narrowly escaped serious injuries when a dangerous object fell from a subway ceiling.
Keep reading for all the details.
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Approaching The Staircase
Cianna Navarro got off Boston red line and approached the Harvard station’s southbound platform staircase at about 4 p.m.
A Fallen Tile
As he walked, a 10-foot tile launched for the ground in a deadly, dusty crash and landed directly at the feet of Navarro. This shock from the unexpected crash led her to stand still.
Expressing Her Shock
Navarro then proceeds to continue up the stairs after gathering herself. The incident surely left a lasting effect on her as she confesses that she’s now nervous about traveling on the subway .
Asking For A Change
Navarro continues in her statement as she sues for a change in the system and adds that it’s unfair for her to always look over her shoulders in the subway station.
How Old Is The Tile
According to MBTA’s Interim General Manager, Jeff Gonneville, the broken panel could be as old as 45 years. Hence, the reason for its weakness and eventual fall.
Water Corrosion
Gonneville explained further that the tile was constructed for beautification and to absorb the noise in the subway. Unfortunately, it got corroded due to water accumulation inside the panel insulation.
Weak Tile
The tile fell after the metal springs suspending it became weak to support the 10-foot panel, hence the fall.
The Tile’s Weight
The tile weighed about 25 pounds when it fell close to Navarro’s feet on Wednesday. If it were dry, it wouldn’t weigh more than 5 pounds.
No Suspicion During Inspection
According to the manager, a team inspected the subway in 2021, and no signs of weakness or pressure were recorded per the tiles, even though they were a bit difficult to examine.
Thankful For Zero Casualties
The manager heaved a sigh of relief upon discovering that no one was injured or killed when the tile fell.
Tile Removal
Following the incident, the MBTA wasted no time removing about 10 other panels at the station, which has 400 to 500 of them.
Updating The Public On The Next Line Of Action
The MBTA tweeted that they needed to remove the panel for proper investigation.
More Inspections
The agency inspected other stations in the area with a drop ceiling. Gonneville disclosed that the design at Harvard is, however, very unique .
Fellow Passengers Saw Nothing
According to footage from the surveillance camera, fellow passengers were unaware of what happened and didn’t hear anything either as they were seeing going about their lives in the station.
Closing The Area
The manager also revealed that the area was quickly closed down while the engineers inspected the panels and removed any more objects that posed an immediate safety concern.
The Exact Date Of Installation
The ceiling panels date to 1978 and is due for a thorough inspection.
Safety Tips In Subways
Use subway entrances and exit where there’s the most activity.
Crossing Gates
Never walk or run across crossing gates, as trespassing is illegal and very dangerous.
Obey All Rules
Obey the lowered gates, flashing lights, and ringing bells at railroad crossings. If you notice any shaky ceiling tiles, walk as fast as possible and alert the authorities.
Last Updated on March 7, 2023 by Chisom Ndianefo
