Man run over by subway at Union Street station suffers minor injuries

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) -- Subway riders going to work on the R train got quite the abrupt halt when they reached the Union Street stop in Brooklyn after a man fell right into the path of the oncoming train.

"It was a pretty quick stop, and it was intense," rider Dave Pappas said. "And I heard what seamed like air compression on both sides of the train. We thought it was an unusual stop, and everyone commented on that."

It wasn't long until MTA workers announced to commuters that a man had been run over by the train.

"Everyone was sort of like, wow I hope that person's OK," Pappas said.

Miraculously, the man survived and wasn't even touched by the train when it rolled over him. He only suffered a few cuts and scrapes.

According to an MTA ticket worker, the victim was leaning over the platform, checking for the train when he stumbled onto the tracks.

"There were four firefighters helping another firefighter, and we could see them speaking to each other on the platform," Pappas said. "So they were talking to people underneath the train, which was a little surreal."

Riders also experienced some tense moments as those who were on cars and still hadn't reached the platform had to sit in the dark before being let off. But all remained calm despite the scare.

"After about 20 minutes with the lights off, they moved us off the train, single file," Pappas said. "I was in the back, so I had to go through all the cars before we hit the platform, and then I could walk off onto the platform."