Metal object thrown on NYC subway track causes short circuit; 1,000 passengers evacuated
NEW YORK (AP) - A metal object thrown onto subway tracks caused a short-circuit that disrupted service for hours and forced 1,000 passengers to be evacuated through smoke-filled tunnels.
"It was scary. The explosions were real loud," said Lola Braverman, who was evacuated from one of the trains that stalled under Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood Sunday.
The man suspected of throwing materials on the track, Bonergy Quelal, 47, was arrested at the West Fourth Street station at about 5:30 p.m., police said.
It was not clear what was thrown onto the tracks, but it welded to the steel and caused a breaker to short-circuit, police spokesman Sgt. Michael Wysokowski said. Smoke filled the station and seven trains had to be evacuated. Five people were taken to hospitals for treatment of smoke inhalation and two others refused treatment on the scene. None were seriously hurt, police said. Service on the A, B, C, D, E and F lines was not restored until shortly after midnight, New York City Transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges said.