News & Reviews News Wire New York subway operator dies in apparent railyard accident

New York subway operator dies in apparent railyard accident

By Trains Staff | August 12, 2022

| Last updated on February 23, 2024

Operator had joined transit agency in May

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Men in high-visibility vests and hard hats talking at subway yard
New York City Transit President Richard Davey and Senior Vice President of Subways Demetrius Crichlow visit Mosholu Yard where a train operator was found unconscious on Thursday and later pronounced dead. (Marc A. Hermann/MTA)

NEW YORK — A New York City Transit died after being discovered between tracks of a subway yard in the Bronx on Thursday, possibly after making contact with the electrified third rail, according to police.

WINS radio reports the 38-year-old woman was found about 8:20 a.m. at the Mosholu Train Yard in Jerome Park, and transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The victim was reported to be Azure Forde, who had joined NYC Transit in May.

“The Transit family is heartbroken to have lost a colleague as she was putting a train into service at the Mosholu Yard to help move New Yorkers,” New York City Transit President Richard Davey said in a statement, “and we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine what happened.”

11 thoughts on “New York subway operator dies in apparent railyard accident

  1. Charles I don’t know what railroad(s) you’ve work for but in my 30 plus years with two Class 1’s it was a no no to put a foot on a rail even if just standing.

  2. They seem to have White Hats (those that are wearing them). Does NYCTA give safety training to their managers?

  3. A sad scenario to lose an employee like that. Condolences to the family.
    If this is now they operate their system one can only wonder about the training of their employees. Top dog and basically all unconcerned with safety rules and regulations. One appears to have improper footware too. (The Transit President?)

    1. I’ve seen plenty of people put on a vest and neglect everything else. Espeically in England. In England, I saw numerous workers wearing vests (everything from heavy construction to delivering the mail), never saw safety eyewear.

    2. That Richard Davey is wore what appear to be sneakers to a location like this is pathetic beyond belief.

  4. And 5 people standing in the gauge. Have they never heard of the Red Zone?

    But at least they have their hardhats on … or at least with them.

    1. I count seven. One or at most two wearing safety glasses.

      The eye protection rule I was taught is very simple: You are in one of three places. (1) You’re in your office, or (2) you’re in a vehicle on the public highway or (3) you are wearing AINSI eye protection.

    1. Seems to be the least of our problems. He’s not walking, he’s standing still.

      George, there’s something unsettling about a newbie (as this employee was) getting wiped out on the job. I recall being on a construction site and hearing that a woman died on the first day of her employment. Her fault, driving a dump truck she obviously wasn’t familiar with or properly trained.

    2. Doesn’t matter if you’re walking or standing still.

      It’s ingrained in training. You never step on the rail. People who step on the rail appear as idiots.

      Most importantly, management, being the example to follow, being the example that everyone sees, follows ALL safely rules 100%. Without fail. In case of doubt, you follow the safety rules which include the use of safety, or PPE, personal protective equipment.

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