Another Fan Hurt on Shea Stadium Escalator

The New York Mets can't move into their new stadium fast enough, as Shea Stadium is quickly becoming something of a death trap. Back in April, a fan named Antonio Nararainsami plunged to his death when he fell off an escalator after a Mets game against the Washington Nationals. It was a tragic incident, but it wasn't the first time a fan died at Shea. Back in 1985, a 21-year old fell 100 feet from an escalator to his death below.

Well, it happened again on Saturday night.

A fan was seriously injured after plunging 25 feet from the handrails of an escalator at Shea Stadium during Saturday's New York Mets game, police and team officials said.

The fan, a 26-year-old man, fell about 10 p.m. from the box-seat level to a floor near Gate D at the stadium as the Mets played the St. Louis Cardinals, police Detective Brian Sessa said.

The unconscious man was taken to a hospital, the Fire Department said. He was in critical condition early Sunday but expected to survive, said police Lt. John Grimpel.

It's great news that the fan is expected to survive, but I hope the Mets don't just keep going about their business. I've never been to Shea Stadium, so I don't know how vital the escalators really are, but I think it's about time they start forcing Mets fans to walk up the ramps if possible. One death at a baseball game is too many, let alone three.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-27-2008 @ 2:55PM

DMJ said...

Can someone explain how it's possible to fall from an escalator without jumping? Maybe I'm just missing something...

7-27-2008 @ 3:57PM

chuckv said...

I don't think you understand how high up the upper levels are at Shea. Escalators are crucial for reaching the mezzanine and upper levels.

7-27-2008 @ 4:59PM

Sid said...

I have been to Shea for over three decades and have never had a problem on the escalators and many of them have been shut down anyway where you have to use the ramps. They must be drunken buffoons or got into an altercation.

7-28-2008 @ 1:01AM

scaphoid said...

The guy tried to slide down the escalator handrail and fell over.

7-28-2008 @ 3:29PM

Crazyduck said...

I saw this man fall...it was the most haunting thing that I have ever seen...He didnt jump...and it doesnt matter if he was drunk...most escalators have up to 3 feet of concrete on eachside....but this one is virtually just an escalator suspended inn the air...so if one does fall,instead of falling backwards and being stopped by the concrete wall....they end up falling all way over...but the new york mets really don't seem to be too interested in protecting paying patrons at their park...I really hope that the new stadium is better equiped.

10-22-2008 @ 12:12AM

mickey said...

Duck: Please write to me directly on this. I appreciate your time. Best, Mickey

7-28-2008 @ 10:25AM

Gary said...

I was at this game too and while I didn't see it happen, I talked to a bunch of people who did and they said that this guy was trying to slide down the handrail of a non-moving escalator.

The handrails are plenty high enough that unless you're about 8' tall, your center of gravity isn't high enough that you're going to just randomly get pushed over the side. I'd bet dollars to donuts though that the Mets block the escalators altogether for the rest of the season now so that some opportunistic asshole doesn't get the idea to try and jump off and get himself hurt so he can sue and claim that it was obviously some sort of design problem since it already happened before.