FATAL FALL
BU professor drops to his death on stairs at JFK/UMass
A Boston University professor out for a run Saturday died after police said he plunged through a gap in a set of rusted-out stairs that have been closed for nearly two years near the JFK/ UMass MBTA station in Dorchester.
David Jones, 40, of Milton, died in the accident across from the T station at 599 Old Colony Ave.
The father of three children was an associate professor in the Boston University Department of Health Law, Policy and Management.
“In truth I have no words to describe the devastation of this news,” Sandro Galea, dean of the BU School of Public Health, wrote to faculty and staff.
“David was a wonderful human being, living with integrity and a deep commitment to all we do,” the dean later added. “I have so loved all my interactions with David, I cannot really imagine what it means to not have David as part of our community.”
Jones was out for a run on Saturday when he apparently fell through the stairs near the JFK/UMass station.
State Police detectives were notified by Transit Police at around 1:30 p.m. of the death.
A passerby had seen Jones’ body under a set of stairs, according to police. His body was laying on the ground under a stairway that connects Old Colony Road to the Columbia Road overpass.
“Detectives observed a gap in the stairs above the victim, who had already been determined to be deceased,” State Police said. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the stairs had been deemed unsafe and closed for approximately 20 months.
“The victim had gone for a run that day, and the incident occurred during his run, according to the investigation,” State Police added. “A wire fence was blocking the bottom entrance to the stairs, and a jersey barrier was blocking the top entrance.”
In addition to the jersey barrier, there was also chainlink fencing at the Columbia Road entrance, police said.
State Police did not immediately specify how Jones was able to access the stairs.
The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office is investigating the death.
“We continue to look at how Dr. Jones accessed a stairway that had been closed for some 20 months,” DA Rachael Rollins said in a statement. “Whether accidental or intentional, any death is a tragedy and the harm to loved ones is the same.”
These stairs are not MBTA property, according to a spokesman for Keolis Commuter Services, which is the MBTA’s Commuter Rail operator. The Keolis spokesman said questions should go to State Police and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
DCR did not immediately provide a statement.
Gov. Charlie Baker addressed the “terrible tragedy” during a State House press conference, but twice dodged questions over which state agency has ownership of the rusted staircase.
“There’s an investigation going on at this point in time, and I want to let that investigation proceed before we comment more,” the governor said. “We obviously feel terrible for him, for his family, for all of his colleagues and for his students.”
Jones’ wife Sarah Sacuto wrote on social media that her husband “was the most loving, kind, considerate person I knew.”
“The void he leaves behind is unspeakable,” she wrote, later adding, “He loved unconditionally and was the proudest father to his kids. I loved him.”
A GoFundMe page has been created for Jones’ family. The page is called “BUSPH GoFundMe for the Sacuto-Jones Family.” More than $75,000 had already been raised as of Monday evening.
“David was beloved beyond words,” the GoFundMe page reads. “This Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise money to support David’s wife, Sarah, and his three children, Olivia, Anne, and Thomas.”