Surveillance video released recently captures the tragic moments leading to the death of a young father, Stephen McCluskey, at an escalator in a Boston suburb.
On February 27, shortly before 5 a.m., McCluskey, 40, was using the escalator at the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Davis Station in Somerville, Massachusetts. During his descent, he seemingly lost his footing and fell beneath the moving steps, as reported by NBC10 Boston.
The footage reveals that his clothing may have gotten caught in the escalator.
A 57-minute video shows McCluskey struggling to escape while a passerby briefly tried to help before walking away.
After a violent struggle, the video later showed him lying still, with his hands positioned above his head.
In the video, many people walked past McCluskey; some glanced at him, while others barely acknowledged his presence.
Records from the store indicate that it took 18 minutes for someone to call emergency services.
Not long after, an MBTA employee arrived at the escalator and finally hit the emergency stop button.
The video also highlights that the MBTA took more than 22 minutes to respond, a timeline that experts argue is insufficient.
“That’s too long,” remarked escalator expert Robert Cotton to NBC10, who has decades of experience in the field.
Cotton pointed out that the transit agency would typically be held to higher safety standards, especially given its public nature.
“They failed in that responsibility. If anyone had understood that, they should have acted without hesitation,” Cotton stated.
When first responders eventually reached him, McCluskey had no pulse, and his clothing was constricting his throat, according to a report from the Somerville Fire Department.
Rescuers managed to free him within about 30 minutes, and although his pulse returned briefly, he was later transferred to a hospital in critical condition, eventually falling into a coma and passing away 10 days later.
According to his obituary, McCluskey was a carpenter who owned his business and was remembered for his humor and kindness.
His family described him as someone who loved to connect with others, offering help and listening to their stories. “If you needed a hand, Stephen was often the one,” the obituary noted.
An active investigation into McCluskey’s death is underway, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The MBTA labeled the incident a “terrible accident,” highlighting that anyone can utilize the red emergency button to stop the escalator.
In their statement to NBC10, the MBTA asserted that personnel strive to respond promptly in emergencies to ensure public safety.
McCluskey’s family found it hard to watch the distressing footage and are seeking accountability from the MBTA.
His sister, Shannon Flaherty, expressed a desire to discover if anyone is at fault for her brother’s lack of protection in a public space.
“No one stopped, no one cared enough to check on him. If someone had, he might still be here,” his mother, Mary Flaherty, said, visibly upset.
“He was important to us. He had a loving life. They treated him as if he didn’t matter,” she added.
The MBTA has yet to respond to further inquiries.
