A man needed to get from one Metro platform to the other, so he risked his life by jumping onto the tracks and over the electrified third rail — twice.
Alarming video caught on Metro security cameras shows a man crossing the tracks of the Eisenhower Avenue station in Northern Virginia on Friday. It's just one instance of what Metro officials call a trend of dangerous trespassing in the rail system.
The video shows a man carrying a backpack hop onto the tracks and step over the two third rails, which carry 750 volts of electricity. He makes it to the other side but initially can’t pull himself up onto the platform. After three tries, he’s able to hoist himself onto his belly, spin his legs around, flip, stand and walk away. A train can be seen on the tracks.
Another video, obtained exclusively by News4, shows someone crossing tracks in the L’Enfant Plaza station last week. A train had to stop to avoid hitting the person.
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The video shows the person jump off the platform, step onto lighting that separates the tracks and scramble up the platform on the opposite side. As they run across, the lights on the platform’s edge flash, indicating a train is about to arrive. The train can be seen pulling into the station and then stopping.
It wasn't immediately clear if police identified the people or if they could face charges.
Someone who had been “subway surfing” on top of a train was hit and killed on Tuesday, June 20, Metro General Manager Randy Clarke previously confirmed. The person, whose identity has not been released, was hit between the Brookland and Rhode Island Avenue stations.
Videos that show people climbing on top of a moving train and trying to ride on top of it are circulating on social media.
Metro is using cameras, employees and police to try to keep people from trespassing onto tracks or onto the tops of trains, Clarke said.
“We’ve had a fair amount of trespassers lately. We are doing everything we can to monitor that in real time,” he said.
So far in April, May and June, Metro has had 32 reports of people trespassing on tracks.
Anyone who sees trespassing in the Metro system is asked to report it to Metro Transit police or the closest Metro employee.
Metro Transit Police warned riders to never jump from train platforms.
“No shortcut is worth your life. Trespassing on the tracks can not only get you arrested, but it could be deadly. Wait for the next train. It's not worth the risk,” the department said in a statement.
Trespassing in the Metrorail system is not only dangerous; it affects service as crews respond.
