SEPTA

Man dies after being pushed onto train tracks at SEPTA station, officials say

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Editor's Note (Jan. 5, 2024, 10:25 a.m.): This story is no longer being updated. For details about the involuntary manslaughter charges being faced by Chaz Wearing click here.


A man is dead after he was pushed onto the tracks at a SEPTA train station in University City on Thursday evening following a fight, according to officials.

This incident occurred on the platform for the Market-Frankford line at 34th and Market streets around 4:30 p.m., officials said.

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New video sent to NBC10 by a law enforcement source shows the two men arguing, tussling with each other before suddenly one of them unloads two punches and knocks the other man onto the tracks. A train came by seconds later and ran him over.

"Looked like appeared to be some type of physical altercation. We don't know exactly what took place prior to that to initiate this, but it's being investigated at this point," Philadelphia Police Inspector Kpana Massaquoi told NBC10.

The other person was taken into custody at the next station stop at 40th Street Station, police said.

The 34th Street station was shut down for hours Thursday afternoon as well as the area near Drexel's campus.

"It's kind of scary that that kind of thing is happening around here. I thought it was pretty safe but I guess it's pretty out of the ordinary for that to happen," Jacob Davidson, a SEPTA passenger said.

SEPTA officials say that service between 30th and 40th streets was rerouted with buses for riders in both directions.

The incident is being investigated by SEPTA Police as they work to figure out the relationship between the two men and what could have started this fatal encounter.

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