Traffic & Transit

Saboteur Causes Train To Derail At 14th Street With Track Debris

A man was charged for causing a derailment by placing construction debris onto the A-train track at 14th Street, according to police.

An image of the front car of a train that derailed Sunday after it struck debris on the track.
An image of the front car of a train that derailed Sunday after it struck debris on the track. (Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit.)

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A train derailed at the 14 Street station in Manhattan on Sunday after a man purposely placed construction debris on the track, according to police.

The train arrived at the 14th Street station at 8th Avenue around 8 a.m. when it struck debris, according to the NYPD.

A 30-year-old was charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, assault, and criminal trespassing.

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A police investigation found a video of the 30-year-old man purposefully placing the debris onto the track minutes before the train arrived in the station. No passengers were hurt, according to police.

The man caused the derailment by clamping wooden planks onto the roadbed, according to the Daily News. The 30-year-old was seen laughing at his actions moments after the derailment, and people in the station restrained him until police arrived to take him into custody, the Daily News report also said.

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The incident caused significant delays Sunday on the A, C, D, E, and F lines.

"I want to thank the NYC Transit workforce for their incredible dedication, ongoing hard work and perseverance during this incident, and our customers for their patience," said New York City Transit interim President Sarah Feinberg.

MTA crew worked hard to get service back up and running for Monday's rush hour.

An image of the frontside of the derailed train. Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

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