MTA employee injured in subway accident

A person with arms wrapped in bandages, said to be... — A person with arms wrapped in bandages, said to be an MTA employee who was working somewhere near the 72nd Street 1-2-3 line, is helped onto a stretcher after he appeared to have been involved in an incident that burned his arms, according to police and fire officials at the scene. (July 11, 2012) Credit: Craig Ruttle

By ZACHARY R. DOWDYzachary.dowdy@newsday.comJuly 11, 2012

An MTA employee suffered burns on his arms Wednesday night after a southbound train came in contact with a signal box that was left open near the 72nd Street stop on the 1-2-3 line in Manhattan, officials said.

It was unclear whether the unidentified worker, who maintains signals, was burned after having touched an electrified rail or some other way, said Kevin Ortiz, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, adding that the 8 p.m. incident caused delays on the subway lines.

Officials suspended subway service in both directions from 42nd Street to 96th Street until about 9:30 p.m., Ortiz said. He also said as many as five trains were stuck between stations during the incident.

The injured worker was transported to New York Presbyterian Hospital but information about his condition was unavailable.

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