An MTA track worker died Thursday night after she was struck by a southbound D train near the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station in the Bronx, according to transit officials and local reports. Moet McCullum, a 41-year-old mother of three from Brooklyn, had been on the job for 11 months as a construction flagger.
What Happened at the Yankee Stadium Station
McCullum was preparing to set up flagging lights on the tracks near the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station just after 11:30 p.m. on Thursday when she was struck by a train heading southbound from the 167th Street station, according to WABC and NBC New York. Transport Workers Union (TWU) officials stated that the lights McCullum was setting up are meant to alert oncoming trains to the presence of an active work crew. However, according to union officials, the operator of the D train did not report seeing any lights ahead and was proceeding at normal speed.
TWU Local 100 Vice President Chris Drummond noted that the crew was in compliance with safety equipment. “Everyone was in compliance. Everyone had their protective, their equipment, their flashlight…their vest, the lamps,” Drummond said, as reported by NBC New York.
Did You Know? Flagging is among the most dangerous jobs on the subway tracks, as construction flaggers are tasked with warning oncoming train operators of active work zones under tight subterranean conditions.
Prior Track Incidents and Federal Scrutiny
Thursday’s fatality marks the first on-the-tracks death of a transit worker since November 2023, when 57-year-old Hilarion Joseph—also a construction flagger who had been on the job for 11 months—was hit by a D train at the 34th Street-Herald Square station, according to WABC and the New York Post. In another incident in June 2024, an MTA flagger suffered severe head trauma after being struck by an out-of-service F train in Brooklyn, transit sources reported.
Following the 2023 fatality, the Federal Transit Administration ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to improve track safety, though the MTA appealed that report. Following Thursday’s accident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a go team on Friday to investigate the incident.
Official Statements and Family Grief
New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow released a statement Friday addressing the tragedy. “This is a difficult day. Last night, we tragically lost a member of our MTA family,” Crichlow said, noting that he visited the hospital, the scene, and met with McCullum’s family.
TWU Local 100 President John Chiarello also released a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss. “The actions that led to this sudden and awful occurrence are still being determined, so we cannot speculate on the details,” Chiarello said. “The NTSB has reached out to me and we will work in conjunction with them, the Track Safety Task Force and the TWU Local 100 Safety Team to piece together what happened.”
McCullum’s family and coworkers expressed profound grief over her sudden death. Her brother-in-law, Tyrell Thomas, described her to NBC New York as “the life of the party, she was funny, very outgoing.” Transportation officials noted that McCullum was a mother of three, a grandmother, and had a twin sister who has worked for NYC Transit for 10 years, usually as a train conductor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Moet McCullum’s role with the MTA?
McCullum worked as a construction flagger, a position tasked with warning oncoming train operators of active work zones on the subway tracks.
When and where did the incident occur?
The accident happened just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday near the 161st Street-Yankee Stadium station in the Bronx, involving a southbound D train.
Who is investigating the accident?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dispatched a go team to investigate, working alongside the MTA, the Track Safety Task Force, and the TWU Local 100 Safety Team.
How do transit worker safety protocols and union oversight address ongoing risks on New York City subway tracks?
Worth a look