A 19-year-old man died Saturday afternoon after falling onto the electrified third rail at the MBTA’s Forest Hills station in Boston while trying to help a woman who had fallen onto the tracks, authorities said.
The incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. at the Jamaica Plain station.
Transit police said the man and a 19-year-old woman were together at the station and were carrying flags representing Caribbean countries. The pair were reportedly heading to Boston’s Caribbean Festival.
According to investigators, the woman appeared unsteady and lost her balance near the yellow warning strip on the platform. The man went to help her, and she was able to get back on her feet before falling backward into the track area.
The man then went down into the right of way while attempting to assist her again. He landed on the electrified third rail and was pronounced dead.
The woman was taken to a local hospital. Her condition was later described as critical.
The young man was identified by his father as Frankey Wright Jr. His father told reporters that Wright was on his way to the Caribbean Festival with his girlfriend and described his son as a loving young man who was trying to save her.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the dangers present around subway tracks, particularly the electrified third rail used by MBTA trains. The third rail carries electrical power for the trains and can be deadly to anyone who comes into contact with it.
Transit police said there is no indication of foul play. Investigators are continuing to examine what led to the falls and the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Orange Line experienced delays following the incident, but service had returned to normal later Saturday afternoon.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the woman’s initial fall.
