Suspect in Chelsea track debris derailment pleads not guilty
CHELSEA, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man accused of tossing metal debris onto subway tracks and causing a train to derail has pleaded not guilty.
Demetrius Harvard, 30, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, assault and criminal trespass in the September incident.
Harvard was arraigned on a grand jury indictment Friday and pleaded not guilty. He was held for a mental examination.
NYC Transit interim President Sarah Feinberg released the following statement:
"We're grateful to the DA's office for recognizing the seriousness of this crime, which only chance prevented from injuring or killing passengers or crew members. The perpetrator who caused this train to derail should face the strictest possible consequences. Additionally, we urge the court to ban him from the transit system should he be convicted."
Police said Harvard was seen throwing construction debris on the express track at the 8th Avenue and 14th Street train station. In the apparent act of sabotage, the front wheels of a train went off the rails as it pulled into the station and struck the tossed metal plate, with the car scraping against columns, damaging them, and shredding the exterior of the train.
The two front wheel sets - four wheels in total -- derailed to the west of the running rails, according to an MTA official.
The MTA says the "heroic" crew was able to stop the train and safely discharge around 135 passengers at the station.
"This was an all-hands on deck emergency with transit workers from multiple divisions responding to assist riders and then begin repairing the extensive damage. It's a stark reminder that the MTA can't cut its front-line workers even if the federal government fails to provide funding in a COVID relief package," Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano said.
A fire department spokesperson said three of the riders suffered minor injuries. One person was taken to a hospital for evaluation and the other two declined treatment.
"We have significant damage to the train car itself," Head of Subways for NYC Transit Frank Jezycki said. "And significant damage to the trackbed and track components as well as some damage to the structural steel columns in between the tracks. We have track opponents including track, plates, clips, tires themselves. We have 100 feet of the third rail with damage and we have significant damage to the car itself. In some of the photos, the crash actually struck the steel."
Crews worked furiously the rest of that day to restore full service.
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