A group of Metro passengers jumped into action when a fellow rider, a man in a motorized wheelchair, wound up going off the platform and onto the tracks at the U Street station.
Washington, D.C., Metro riders rushed to the rescue of a man who drove his motorized wheelchair onto the tracks at the U Street station Tuesday afternoon.
Two men jumped down after him and hoisted him back up to the platform in about 30 seconds as other riders also went to the edge of the platform to help. They also retrieved the wheelchair.
The closest train was three stations away, but the third rail was hot.
While Metro acknowledged the heroics of the good Samaritans, they reminded that it’s best to wait for the station manager to cut power to the third rail.
Emergency workers said the man was conscious and breathing with some cuts to his face.
“He’s a regular down here as well,” said an employee of the & Pizza by the 13th Street entrance. “We see him all the time. He comes to & Pizza. He’s a good guy so I’m glad they rescued him, took care of him.”
