PHILADELPHIA, PA – In a shocking incident, a man fell onto subway tracks and was killed by an approaching train. This took place during a scuffle with another man on Thursday afternoon at a University City SEPTA station platform.
The accused, 40-year-old Chaz Wearing, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office made the announcement on Friday. Authorities suspect Wearing to be homeless and have discovered he is wanted for an unrelated strangulation case in Delaware County. He also has criminal cases in Clinton and Lycoming counties.
The tragic occurrences took place at the 34th and Market streets station platform for the Market-Frankford line at around 4:30 p.m. Surveillance footage captured Wearing in a heated argument with the 38-year-old victim.
According to the police account, the victim held on to Wearing, provoked him, and made menacing gestures. Wearing managed to free himself and landed two punches on the victim. The punches led Wearing to stumble on the platform while the victim fell onto the tracks. Moments later, a SEPTA train arriving at the station struck and killed the 38-year-old man.
In the wake of the incident, Wearing was apprehended at the 40th Street Station, the next stop. As the incident rattled the community and triggered a police investigation, the 34th Street Station remained sealed off for a significant duration on Thursday afternoon.
The manslaughter case has shaken the sense of safety among residents, posing questions about public safety in the area. SEPTA authorities were quick to manage the situation, rerouting services between 30th and 40th streets with buses for commuters in both directions.