Woman on Metro Tracks Hid Under Platform

The 68-year-old woman who fell on the Metro tracks this morning couldn't get off the tracks in time to avoid an oncoming train, according to authorities, so other riders helped her hide under the platform, averting disaster.

The woman told officials she was too close to the platform edge at Gallery Place-Chinatown and slipped onto the tracks, according to Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. Customers who saw her tried to pull her up as a Red Line train got closer, she said, but couldn't and so helped push her under the platform before the train pulled in.

"It would have hit her if she were on the tracks," Farbstein said. "But she was able to get herself out of harm's way."

Metro officials were able to resume normal service after about 45 minutes, which is a relatively short time for this kind of incident. In preparation for today's unprecedented crowds, Metro personnel had performed drills of such scenarios.

Safety, emergency and track personnel in place and able to respond quickly, taking power down, stopping trains, and investigating the incident.

-- Lena Sun