Man Dead After Bag Caught in Brooklyn Subway Doors, Dragging Him Onto Tracks

A 57-year-old man died Monday evening in Brooklyn after his bag reportedly became stuck in the doors of a northbound A train at the Utica Avenue station, dragging him onto the tracks.

Yaw Boahene was found unresponsive on the subway tracks shortly after 6 p.m. by responding paramedics, who pronounced him dead at the scene, according to the New York Police Department. An investigation into the cause of his death has been launched.

The incident occurred as Boahene was exiting the train, and his shopping bag became ensnared in the closing doors. This accident is one of several rare but tragic incidents where commuters have been caught and dragged by subway trains.

In October 2022, Joseph Ancona, 20, died at the Columbus Circle station when his bag became caught in a train door, pulling him onto the tracks. Months prior, Marcus Bryant, 37, was killed in Brooklyn after getting caught between a Q train and the platform, falling onto the tracks. In 2019, Vicente Alatorre, 39, died after being dragged into a tunnel by a train at Grand Central Station, though authorities later stated his clothing or bag was not the cause in that instance.