Officials probing if Sandy damage caused PATH escalator to malfunction

Port Authority investigators are probing whether damage from Superstorm Sandy caused a PATH escalator to malfunction yesterday, leaving five people injured, officials said.

An upward-bound escalator at the Exchange Place station suddenly reversed direction, causing the injuries and hospitalizing three people, officials said.

Video of the incident quickly went viral, showing people scrambling to climb up the suddenly descending escalator, as a logjam consisting of dozens of people formed at the bottom.

"PATH officials are looking into the cause of today's escalator incident at Exchange Place, including whether Superstorm Sandy-related effects played a role," Port Authority spokesman Ron Marsico said.

Marsico said the injuries were "mostly bumps bruises and scrapes," and that those taken to the hospital reported neck and back pain.

Escalator service at the station was shuttered after the incident and is set to be suspended through this morning, forcing commuters to walk up nearly 130 stairs to the street.