FATAL STAIRS REMOVED
Staircase where professor fell to his death torn down
The decrepit staircase near the Dorchester MBTA station where a Boston University professor plunged to his death on Sept. 11 has now been removed.
The rusted-out stairs near the JFK/UMass stop had been closed for nearly two years, but Milton’s David Jones, 40, somehow accessed them while out on a run and fell through the staircase.
In the wake of the BU professor’s death on Sept. 11, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation first further secured the site. Then, a weekend later, crews removed the dilapidated staircase.
“MassDOT demolished the staircase over the weekend after checking with investigatory authorities,” the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said in a statement Monday evening.
In January 2020 — about 20 months ago — the “structure was fenced in, a cement barricade was installed, and a sign was installed by the MBTA stating that the stairs would be closed,” MassDOT said last week.
The state Department of Transportation added last week, “MassDOT mobilized an emergency contract to further secure the site overnight last night.“
Massachusetts State Police have not specified how Jones was able to access the stairs.
His death remains under investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
The Herald last week found nearby stairs that are rusting out. Rust pieces are being swept into piles under the stairs.
All MBTA stairs are “routinely inspected” by the MBTA and reviewed by a third party, according to the agency.
“Patch repair work has been performed from time to time, and the steel treads have been deemed stable in recent inspections,” the MBTA said.
Jones’ family last week called his death “preventable.”
“Our hope is that this unimaginable tragic loss will foster a renewed commitment to create safe and healthy environments for all people,” the family added.
His wake was on Sunday, and a virtual and in-person memorial service will be held at the Boston University School of Public Health on Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m.
“All members of the SPH Community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni, are invited to join the family and friends of David Jones’s family and friends,” the School of Public Health said in a statement.
“We will share a multimedia tribute to David Jones and have an opportunity for all to be together to mourn and to celebrate his life,” the school added. “This event is intended for the family, friends, colleagues, students, collaborators, and the communities touched by Dr. David Jones.”
The associate professor of Health Policy and Law at Boston University was a father of three.
“He was a devoted husband and father of three children, a beloved teacher and a writer who dedicated his work to health justice,” his obituary reads. “His death has left a void for his family and community that cannot be filled.
“David threw his whole heart into whatever he pursued, letting his passion lead the way followed closely by the hard work he applied to bring his efforts to fruition,” the obituary continues.
A GoFundMe page for his family — called the “BUSPH GoFundMe for the SacutoJones Family” — has already raised about $150,000.