bart_generic.jpg11:16 (Janna Brancolini, Bay City News): A woman got stuck underneath a train at the Glen Park BART station in San Francisco this morning, causing major delays for BART riders, an agency spokesman said.

A train operator pulling into the station at about 8:50 a.m. noticed someone on the tracks and immediately hit the “stop” button, BART spokesman Linton Johnson said.
The train, which was traveling at about 35 mph, took several seconds to stop, he said. Seven train cars rolled over the woman, who apparently survived by lying between the rails, Johnson said.

BART police responded within 10 minutes and found the woman, who is in her 40s, covered in soot and sitting near the top of the stairs with her head in her hands, Johnson said. It’s unclear how she climbed out from under the train.

She suffered cuts and bruises and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, he said. BART does not release conditions of patients.

Johnson said it is not surprising that the woman survived, and that people who fall onto the tracks and can’t get out are advised to lie flat between the running rails or get underneath the lip of the platform, then stay still and yell for help.

“If the train comes it’s most likely you will survive because of the depth of the trackway between running rails,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of room.”

The trains also do not pass at all under the platform lip, he said.

The Glen Park station was closed for nearly an hour after the incident, with only some trains able to pass through. The station was cleared at about 9:45 a.m. but there were still residual delays, BART said.

The train operator is being put on standard paid administrative leave during the investigation and was given a drug test this morning, Johnson said. The operator will also be offered psychiatric help.

During the closure, most southbound BART trains were turned around at the 24th Street/Mission or Montgomery BART stations in San Francisco, Johnson said.

Trains bound for San Francisco International Airport single-tracked through the Glen Park station and were delayed by about 15 minutes, according to Johnson.

Other passengers experienced major delays heading into San Francisco from the East Bay.

10:25 AM: A person was struck by a train at the Glen Park BART station in San Francisco this morning, causing major delays for BART riders, agency spokesman Linton Johnson said.

The station was closed for nearly an hour after the incident, with only some trains able to pass through. The station was cleared at about 9:45 a.m. but there were still residual delays, BART said.

During the closure, most southbound BART trains were turned around at the 24th Street/Mission or Montgomery BART stations in San Francisco, Johnson said.

Trains bound for San Francisco International Airport single-tracked through the Glen Park station and were delayed by about 15 minutes, according to Johnson.

Other passengers experienced major delays heading into San Francisco from the East Bay.

Information was not immediately available about the person, who was hit at about 8:50 a.m. and pinned under the train.

10:05 AM: According to BART, the Glen Park station has now reopened in the SFO, Millbrae and East Bay directions.

They have not provided any further details on the incident at this time.

9:30 AM: According to KRON4 broadcast, the person struck by a BART train at the Glen Park station is presently beneath the train.

BART has yet to comment on the condition of the person, or the circumstances of the incident, which occurred at 8:50 this morning, according to BART spokesperson Linton Johnson.

As of 9:30 AM, most southbound trains were being turned around at the 24th Street Mission and Montgomery stations. Trains to and from SFO were being single-tracked through the Glen Park station, and are experiencing delays of at least 15 minutes.

BART to Johnson, passengers who ordinarily take a train directly into San Francisco might have to transfer to another train.

Significant delays and limited service are being reported across the system. BART riders are urged to seek other methods of transportation.

9:12 AM: A person was struck by a train at the Glen Park BART station in San Francisco this morning and the station has been shut down, a BART employee said.

As of 8:55 a.m., no trains were passing through the station, but the employee said trains could be allowed to single-track through the area soon.

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the author

Eve Batey is the editor and publisher of the San Francisco Appeal. She used to be the San Francisco Chronicle's Deputy Managing Editor for Online, and started at the Chronicle as their blogging and interactive editor. Before that, she was a co-founding writer and the lead editor of SFist. She's been in the city since 1997, presently living in the Outer Sunset with her husband, cat, and dog. You can reach Eve at eve@sfappeal.com.

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