Full Breakdown
Fatal Escalator Incident at Davis Station
5/17/2026, 8:36:14 AM
Fatal Escalator Incident at Davis Station
On February 27, 2024, at about 5:00 a.m., Steven McCluskey, a 40-year-old carpenter and father of two, fell at the bottom of the escalator in the MBTA’s Davis Station, Somerville, Massachusetts. His coat became entangled in the moving steps, tightening around his neck. Surveillance shows more than a dozen commuters passing without intervening; one briefly pulls at his ankles before walking away. A 911 call was placed roughly 18 minutes after the fall, and an employee pressed the emergency stop button at 5:21 a.m. First responders arrived around 5:23 a.m., restored a pulse, and extricated him by 5:55 a.m. He remained in a coma for ten days and died on March 9.
Data & Statistics
Video captured over a dozen bystanders, a 20-minute delay before the escalator was stopped, an 18-minute gap before the 911 call, and roughly 30 minutes of rescue effort. McCluskey spent ten days in a coma before dying.
Official Statements & Responses
The MBTA called the event “a terrible accident” and reminded riders that any escalator can be stopped by pressing the red ‘STOP’ button at either end, followed by an immediate 911 call. General manager Phil Eng said safety and reliability are “paramount” and expressed that McCluskey’s passing is “very disheartening.” The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office says the investigation remains open.
Criticism & Opposition
McCluskey’s sister, Shannon Flaherty, urged the MBTA to “take accountability,” saying the agency failed to protect her brother. Their mother, Mary Flaherty, said no one stopped to help, implying a missed minute could have saved his life. Escalator expert Robert Cotton called the 20-minute response “way too long,” alleging a breach of the agency’s duty of care.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports vary on the exact delay before the escalator was stopped—some cite 20 minutes, others 22—while the identity of the 911 caller is not consistently reported.
Why It Matters
The incident has prompted discussion about bystander responsibility and the adequacy of emergency-stop procedures on public transit. The MBTA has been urged to improve its emergency-stop procedures.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to make sure that there’s somebody or something held accountable for the fact that my brother wasn’t protected in a public space,” — Shannon Flaherty, sister
- “Nobody cared. Nobody stopped. Nobody took the time to help, to make sure that he was OK. If somebody took that minute, he would be here today,” — Mary Flaherty, mother
- “That’s way too long,” — Robert Cotton, escalator safety expert
- “It is important that the public knows that anyone can stop an escalator in an emergency by pressing the red button labeled ‘STOP’ at the top and bottom of each escalator,” — MBTA spokesperson
