25 Investigates: Red Line train that dragged man to his death had doors with ‘sensitive edges’

BOSTON — 25 Investigates has been trying to understand what went wrong early Sunday morning when a Boston was dragged by a Red Line train when his arm got caught in the doorway.

Robinson Lalin, 39, died after getting his arm stuck between the doors as the train left Broadway Station around 12:30 a.m. According to sources, Lalin was dragged by the train for some distance.

Investigative reporter Ted Daniel learned the train had a safety feature designed to prevent a tragedy like this. An MBTA spokesperson said the doors on the Red Line train in question have “sensitive edges.”

That technology is supposed to cause doors to automatically re-open if blocked from closing by an obstruction.

For example, if an item, like an arm or bag, gets stuck, the doors should slide back open.

In addition, the MBTA says, the train operator’s responsibilities include “checking platform mirrors and sticking his/her head out of the operator cab’s window (platform side) and making sure the doors are free and clear of any obstructions before departing the platform.”

The agency is still trying to determine if what happened on Sunday was caused by mechanical failure or human error.

A source tells 25 Investigates the train traveled several stops before the operator even became aware someone fell off.

Our team listened to transit police radio communication to get more clarity. At one point a dispatcher is heard talking about the train’s location. That occurred about 22 minutes after the first call about a man with his arm caught came through to Transit Police.

“Did you find the train that passed through here at the time…..trying to track it down where it is?” a male voice is heard saying.

Then, a female joins the conversation: “Affirmative sir, it’s going to be standing by at Downtown Crossing. Sir, can I start you down to Downtown Crossing Red Line to meet with that train involved in this Code 2?”

This is not the first time a door problem has been reported on a Red Line train. In September, a T rider told 25 Investigates’ Kerry Kavanaugh that one of the doors on her Red Line car swung open several times while her train was moving. At the time, the MBTA blamed the problem on the aging Red Line fleet and said the agency was buying new state-of-the-art cars.

Since then, the new cars have been put in service. The MBTA tells us Sunday’s morning fatality involved one of the older cars.

Related:

[Family of man dragged to his death on MBTA subway train demanding answers]

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