Experts dispute MARTA claim stampede caused escalator incident

The Brief

  • Two people with an extensive background in escalators said they believe the video released by MARTA shows the escalator’s brakes malfunctioning.
  • Neither of the men inspected the escalator at the Vine Station, but both said functioning safety devices are designed to stop an escalator in a situation like this.
  • MARTA said state officials inspected the escalator the morning after the incident and found no malfunctioning equipment.

ATLANTA Two experts on escalators said they don’t believe the incident at MARTA’s Vine Station last week was caused by a stampede. They said the video released by MARTA appears to show the escalator malfunction.

Post-Beyonce concert escalator incident

The backstory:

The incident happened after Beyoncé’s Sunday performance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A witness told FOX 5 that the escalator sped up and then abruptly stopped working, which caused people to fall on top of each other, pinning them down.

Nine people were injured. One person suffered a broken ankle, and seven others were hospitalized.

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