NTSB says Red Line victim was trying to leave train
More info on incident still a ways away
The man killed when a Red Line train captured his arm and dragged him into the Broadway station tunnel was attempting to leave the train when he died, according to investigators.
“The preliminary information that we have at this time is that the passenger was exiting the train at the time of the accident,” Keith Holloway, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, said in an emailed statement Monday.
Holloway said that investigators have completed their work in Southie, but that they won’t be able to issue even an initial report for some time.
“NTSB investigators wrapped up the on-scene portion of the investigation last week. It is possible that a preliminary report may be available within the next couple of weeks or sooner,” he said.
Robinson Lalin, 39, of Boston, was killed early on the morning of April 10, when an inbound Red Line train’s door closed on his arm and dragged him into the Broadway station tunnel, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.
Lalin’s nephew told the Herald that witnesses have reached out to him via social media to explain that they tried to help Lalin free his arm but that their efforts failed. Lalin’s family will be forced to have a closed casket funeral due to the damage to his remains, his nephew said.
Lalin leaves behind two children.
The MBTA has indicated the train’s maintenance schedule would be looked at and that the driver has been relieved of duty. That driver has not been identified.
MBTA trains doors are equipped with sensitive edges meant to detect obstruction, according to a spokesperson.
It has not been indicated whether mechanical malfunction or driver error were at fault.
“As MBTA Transit Police detectives work to establish the facts, the investigation will include, but not be limited to, collecting statements from witnesses, reviewing any images captured by cameras, and examining vehicle maintenance and inspections records,” a spokesperson said after the accident.
Holloway said that a full investigation could take as much as two years and that the NTSB isn’t prepared to make any statements regarding the cause of Lalin’s death.
“No conclusions have been made at this point. It is still very early in the investigation and the entire investigation can take about 12 to 24 months to complete,” Holloway said.
The Lalin family has established a GoFundMe to assist with funeral and other expenses.