Additional Coverage:
Disturbing video footage has emerged capturing the tragic moments before a Somerville man became fatally trapped in an escalator at the MBTA’s Davis Station near Boston, with numerous commuters passing by without intervening.
Steven McCluskey, a 40-year-old father of two, was descending the escalator shortly before 5 a.m. on February 27 when he appeared to lose his footing near the bottom. The footage, spanning nearly an hour and obtained by NBC10 Boston, shows Steven struggling as his clothing becomes entangled in the escalator’s machinery. His legs flail as he desperately tries to free himself from the relentless moving stairs.
Shockingly, only one passerby attempted to assist Steven briefly before leaving. The video then shows Steven lying motionless on his back with his arm raised above his head. Throughout this time, around a dozen people walk past him; most appear unaware or indifferent, while a few glance briefly before continuing on.
It took 18 minutes before anyone called 911, according to emergency call logs. Shortly thereafter, a station employee reached the scene and pressed the escalator’s emergency stop button. From the time of the accident to staff engagement, a total of 22 minutes elapsed-a response time that experts say falls far short of acceptable standards.
Robert Cotton, an escalator safety expert, told NBC10 that this delay was “way too long.” He emphasized that transit authorities like the MBTA are held to a “common carrier” standard, requiring the highest level of care for public safety. Cotton noted that once knowledge of the incident existed, immediate action should have been taken.
When emergency responders arrived, Steven had no detectable pulse. His clothing had constricted his throat severely, and his skin was visibly caught in the escalator’s mechanisms. After approximately 30 minutes, rescuers managed to free him, and he briefly regained a pulse before being rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Tragically, Steven slipped into a coma and passed away ten days later. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that an investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing.
The MBTA described the incident as a “terrible accident,” highlighting that anyone present can stop an escalator instantly by pressing the red emergency button. However, Steven’s family remains deeply troubled by the delay in assistance and the lack of immediate help from bystanders.
His sister, Shannon Flaherty, expressed heartbreak and frustration: “I want to make sure that somebody or something is held accountable for the fact that my brother wasn’t protected in a public space. Nobody cared.
Nobody stopped. Nobody took the time to help, to make sure that he was OK.
If somebody had acted that minute, he would be here today.”
The case underscores urgent questions about public safety protocols and the responsibilities of both transit authorities and commuters in emergency situations.