Police say Heriberto Quintana, 48, was struck by an oncoming F train at the Roosevelt Ave-Jackson Heights subway station on Monday just before 5 p.m.
Police believe Quintana bumped into another man on the platform causing the second man's cellphone to fall onto the track bed. Then a fight erupted.
Quintana then fell onto the tracks as the F train pulled into the station. EMS eventually rescued his body from the tracks and Quintana was later pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital.
Authorities believe the two men were strangers before the fatal encounter.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance videos and interviewing eyewitnesses to determine if Quintana was pushed onto the tracks or if he lost his footing during the fight.
"For anyone to lose their life over a fight, what is that?" said Charlton D'Souza.
Police say they arrested a 50-year-old man at the scene, believed to be involved in the fight.
ALSO READ | Eyewitness News gets exclusive ride-along with NYPD commissioner amid fear over subway crime
Exclusive: NYPD's Sewell tours subway amid fear over crime
----------
* More Queens news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.