I saw this newspaper this morning while waiting for my bagel.

I didn't even bother to pick it up.

Personally I find it tasteless and unnecessary. I can't even begin to imagine what this poor man's family would feel upon seeing this.

Apparently I'm not alone...

New York Post piles on th...bway train

The New York Post is facing criticism over its decision to publish a front-page photo of a man, pushed onto the subway tracks in Midtown on Monday, trying to climb to safety before being fatally struck by an oncoming train.

Ki Suk Han, a 58-year-old from Queens, N.Y., was hurled from the 49th Street station platform onto the tracks by "a deranged man" around 12:30 p.m., according to the paper. Han was attempting to calm the man, apparently a panhandler, when a scuffle broke out, police say. The man then pushed him onto the tracks.

Witnesses told police the man had been harassing people on the platform. "At least one witness felt that the aggressor was emotionally disturbed," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told The New York Times.

R. Umar Abbasi, a freelance photographer, was among those waiting on the platform. He said he tried to alert the train's conductor with his camera. "I just started running, running, hoping that the driver could see my flash," Abbasi told the tabloid.

During the chaos, Abbasi managed to snap the photo that the Post splashed on its cover.

In a larger version of Abbasi's photo, people are seen huddled at one end of the platform in apparent fear.

"People were shouting and yelling when it happened," Dr. Laura Kaplan, another witness, said. "But then people ran the other way."

"DOOMED," the Post declared on its front page. "Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die."

[edited for compliance]

Han was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The train's operator was treated for shock, the MTA said, declining to release his name.

The man who pushed Han fled the station, police and witnesses say. The NYPD described him as a black male in his mid-20s or early 30s, about 5-foot-9, 240 pounds with short dreadlocks. He was wearing a tan T-shirt, a dark jacket, jeans, black sneakers and a black beanie when he left.

How do you feel about this?

hard to believe nobody could have helped him get back up but they had time to take a photo?

NDRU said:

hard to believe nobody could have helped him get back up but they had time to take a photo?

That was my FIRST impression.

As you can read above, the "story" goes that the photographer was using his camera to "flash" the train to get him to stop.

the photog should have helped, imo. not taken the pic.

nd why is it possible for this to happen? how come the tracks aren't fenced off? some kind of barrier should be used, imo

NY Post at it's usual classy self.

XxAxX said:

the photog should have helped, imo. not taken the pic.

nd why is it possible for this to happen? how come the tracks aren't fenced off? some kind of barrier should be used, imo

Have you ever used a subway before, lol?

NDRU said:

hard to believe nobody could have helped him get back up but they had time to take a photo?

That was my first thought.

Spinlight said:

XxAxX said:

the photog should have helped, imo. not taken the pic.

nd why is it possible for this to happen? how come the tracks aren't fenced off? some kind of barrier should be used, imo

Have you ever used a subway before, lol?

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

I can only guess that maybe people were afraid to reach down to him out of fear that by him grabbing onto your hand he might unintentionally wind up pulling you down with him? I dunno ...

Also it would depend on how fast the train was going.

I saw this this morning too and walked right past it... I hate the fucking Post

this is the fucker who pushed him

they did get the guy. his co-workers from a nearby deli turned him in....

btw He's now in custody

XxAxX said:

Spinlight said:

Have you ever used a subway before, lol?

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

Well considering the trains don't always line up with the markers on the platform, you open up a can of worms with that one. How about we just not push people? And how about if you see someone get pushed, don't try to stop the oncoming train by... flashing your cell phone at it while taking pictures of the guy about to get crushed by it. Perhaps even help the poor dude onto the platform as it wouldn't even take that much effort and yet you'd save a priceless, invaluable life.

XxAxX said:

Spinlight said:

Have you ever used a subway before, lol?

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

There are probably at least a dozen different models of train cars that pass through each station at any given time, each model with doors located at different positions along side the car. Even if they designed a barrier that took into consideration the average location of all the car doors, there would still probably be more open space than actual barrier, and the barriers themselves would pose a safety risk during rush hour when you have thousands of people every minute pushing to get on and off the trains.

I applaud your barrier idea (because you're trying to think of a solution that would save human life), but it wouldn't work, and would probably cause more injury than not having them at all.

XxAxX said:

Spinlight said:

Have you ever used a subway before, lol?

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

In Los Angeles, the underground subway has a space under the platform which is big enough for someone to duck into in the event of something like this happening. From what I can tell the electrified part of the rail is on the other side against the wall so someone would have a chance of survival by moving into that space.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

XxAxX said:

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

In Los Angeles, the underground subway has a space under the platform which is big enough for someone to duck into in the event of something like this happening. From what I can tell the electrified part of the rail is on the other side against the wall so someone would have a chance of survival by moving into that space.

He could have also rolled to the center of the track, between the two main rails, laid flat, and allowed the train to pass over him. If he was unable to lift himself back up to the platform for some reason, it would have sure beat just standing there waiting for the train to hit him.

PDogz said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

In Los Angeles, the underground subway has a space under the platform which is big enough for someone to duck into in the event of something like this happening. From what I can tell the electrified part of the rail is on the other side against the wall so someone would have a chance of survival by moving into that space.

He could have also rolled to the center of the track, between the two main rails, laid flat, and allowed the train to pass over him. If he was unable to lift himself back up to the platform for some reason, it would have sure beat just standing there waiting for the train to hit him.

It would take an incredible inner counselor to be able to focus at that point. He was panicked and probably couldn't think about anything other than trying to get up and out which is what he was trying to do.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

PDogz said:

He could have also rolled to the center of the track, between the two main rails, laid flat, and allowed the train to pass over him. If he was unable to lift himself back up to the platform for some reason, it would have sure beat just standing there waiting for the train to hit him.

It would take an incredible inner counselor to be able to focus at that point. He was panicked and probably couldn't think about anything other than trying to get up and out which is what he was trying to do.

Plus, he could have been injured from the fall alone, twisted ankle or broken bone. I'm sure he was hoping the train would stop, which I've never known them to do at that close range. My heart goes out to him and his family.

PDogz said:

XxAxX said:

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

There are probably at least a dozen different models of train cars that pass through each station at any given time, each model with doors located at different positions along side the car. Even if they designed a barrier that took into consideration the average location of all the car doors, there would still probably be more open space than actual barrier, and the barriers themselves would pose a safety risk during rush hour when you have thousands of people every minute pushing to get on and off the trains.

I applaud your barrier idea (because you're trying to think of a solution that would save human life), but it wouldn't work, and would probably cause more injury than not having them at all.

good points. it'd have to be all sci fi tesla style, like a really powerful field/shield which could dissipate at a moment's notice

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

XxAxX said:

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

In Los Angeles, the underground subway has a space under the platform which is big enough for someone to duck into in the event of something like this happening. From what I can tell the electrified part of the rail is on the other side against the wall so someone would have a chance of survival by moving into that space.

that works too. i wonder if there was anything like that in this case? did the guy just kind of freeze in place with disbelief and shock (oh no moment) instead of searching around for a safey spot? too bad we won't ever know. i used to ride the subways in japan, and BART when i lived in the bay area. i never did and never will feel comfortable close to the edge of those platforms, in a crowd.

[Edited 12/4/12 18:37pm]

XxAxX said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

In Los Angeles, the underground subway has a space under the platform which is big enough for someone to duck into in the event of something like this happening. From what I can tell the electrified part of the rail is on the other side against the wall so someone would have a chance of survival by moving into that space.

that works too. i wonder if there was anything like that in this case? did the guy just kind of freeze in place with disbelief and shock (oh no moment) instead of searching around for a safey spot? too bad we won't ever know. i used to ride the subways in japan, and BART when i lived in the bay area. i never did and never will feel comfortable close to the edge of those platforms, in a crowd.

[Edited 12/4/12 18:37pm]

NEVER.

I always watch my back for this exact reason. You never know what kind of crazies are around.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I always watch my back for this exact reason. You never know what kind of crazies are around.

Me too.

I never stand near the edge of the platform as trains near the station, never allow anyone to stand behind me, and always make sure I'm near something that I can grab onto in the event someone pushes me near the edge (either on purpose, or by accident). There is NEVER a time when I am in the subway when I'm not thinking about this exact kind of accident, or thinking about what to do in case it happens.

PDogz said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I always watch my back for this exact reason. You never know what kind of crazies are around.

Me too.

I never stand near the edge of the platform as trains near the station, never allow anyone to stand behind me, and always make sure I'm near something that I can grab onto in the event someone pushes me near the edge (either on purpose, or by accident). There is NEVER a time when I am in the subway when I'm not thinking about this exact kind of accident, or thinking about what to do in case it happens.

I've been riding trains since I was 8 or 9 years old.

My mom would always push us to the back whenever a train was arriving (either the LIRR or the subway).

This has become ingrained in me and I do the same to my kids today.

PDogz said:

XxAxX said:

tons of times. still think there should be barriers, and openings where the doors line up.

There are probably at least a dozen different models of train cars that pass through each station at any given time, each model with doors located at different positions along side the car. Even if they designed a barrier that took into consideration the average location of all the car doors, there would still probably be more open space than actual barrier, and the barriers themselves would pose a safety risk during rush hour when you have thousands of people every minute pushing to get on and off the trains.

I applaud your barrier idea (because you're trying to think of a solution that would save human life), but it wouldn't work, and would probably cause more injury than not having them at all.

We have barriers for certain Tube/subway stops in London so it's definitely possible. Here's a pic of Westminster station...

AshK said:

PDogz said:

There are probably at least a dozen different models of train cars that pass through each station at any given time, each model with doors located at different positions along side the car. Even if they designed a barrier that took into consideration the average location of all the car doors, there would still probably be more open space than actual barrier, and the barriers themselves would pose a safety risk during rush hour when you have thousands of people every minute pushing to get on and off the trains.

I applaud your barrier idea (because you're trying to think of a solution that would save human life), but it wouldn't work, and would probably cause more injury than not having them at all.

We have barriers for certain Tube/subway stops in London so it's definitely possible. Here's a pic of Westminster station...

Excellent point.

I actually gave this idea more thought after my last post. They also have this type of setup in many airports, like in Atlanta, GA for example. But it would still be cost-prohibitive to convert the entire NYC subway system in this manner. They can't even afford to keep the subways in NY clean, not to mention completely overhauling them.

Still the fact remains (as you have pointed out), there are certainly safer (and apparently cleaner) train stations in the world than in New York.

PDogz said:

AshK said:

We have barriers for certain Tube/subway stops in London so it's definitely possible. Here's a pic of Westminster station...

Excellent point.

I actually gave this idea more thought after my last post. They also have this type of setup in many airports, like in Atlanta, GA for example. But it would still be cost-prohibitive to convert the entire NYC subway system in this manner. They can't even afford to keep the subways in NY clean, not to mention completely overhauling them.

Still the fact remains (as you have pointed out), there are certainly safer (and apparently cleaner) train stations in the world than in New York.

That pic right there makes absolute sense.

It can and should be done.

MOST of the subway stations in NY are filthy/disgusting. I don't even want to breathe the air down there.

At least they've fixed the intercom system so that nowadays you can more-or-less understand what they're saying on the speakers!

It'll probably take a multi-billion class-action lawsuit to get something like the Westminster station done here.

Interesting follow-up story on the questionable use of that picture by the NY Post.

Train Wreck: The New York...bway Cover

Suspect has been caught...

Naeem Davis Arrested: Suspect In Fatal Subway Push Of Ki-Suk Han Implicates Himself

NEW YORK -- Authorities said a suspect implicated himself Tuesday in the death of a New Yorker who was pushed onto the tracks and photographed just before a train hit him - an image that drew virulent criticism after it appeared on the front page of the New York Post.

The New York Post reports 30-year-old Naeem Davis is the man authorities have been questioning. Police officials said Davis said he "stayed and watched" his victim get hit by the train.

"I begged him to leave me alone, and he wouldn't," Davis reportedly told police, according to The Post. "He wouldn't stay away, and I pushed him."

Investigators recovered security video showing a man fitting the description of the suspect working with street vendors near Rockefeller Center, said New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne.

"The individual we talked to made statements implicating himself in the incident," Browne said.

Witnesses told investigators they saw the suspect talking to himself Monday afternoon before he approached Ki-Suck Han at the Times Square station, got into an altercation with him and pushed him into the train's path.

Police took the man into custody Tuesday, but no charges are expected to be announced until Wednesday, Browne said.

full story HERE

PurpleJedi said:

PDogz said:

Excellent point.

I actually gave this idea more thought after my last post. They also have this type of setup in many airports, like in Atlanta, GA for example. But it would still be cost-prohibitive to convert the entire NYC subway system in this manner. They can't even afford to keep the subways in NY clean, not to mention completely overhauling them.

Still the fact remains (as you have pointed out), there are certainly safer (and apparently cleaner) train stations in the world than in New York.

That pic right there makes absolute sense.

It can and should be done.

MOST of the subway stations in NY are filthy/disgusting. I don't even want to breathe the air down there.

At least they've fixed the intercom system so that nowadays you can more-or-less understand what they're saying on the speakers!

It'll probably take a multi-billion class-action lawsuit to get something like the Westminster station done here.

...and the price of a metrocard would probably go up $500 a month.

Very sad.

I'm actually surprised that this does not occure more often.