84-year-old woman injured on escalator at MBTA station due to elevator outage
- Eleanor Harris suffered a spinal fracture after using an escalator at the Tufts Medical Center MBTA station when the elevator was out of service.
- After the accident, she went to the Emergency Department where her injury was confirmed, and she later returned home to recover.
- Harris has reached out to the MBTA to advocate for better safety measures, emphasizing accountability rather than legal action.
In October 2024, an 84-year-old woman named Eleanor Harris suffered a spinal fracture at the Tufts Medical Center MBTA station in Massachusetts when the elevator was out of service. During her visit to see her hospitalized husband, she was forced to use an escalator with her walker. Unfortunately, as she navigated the escalator, it malfunctioned, knocking her over and causing her injury. After the incident, an employee offered to summon an ambulance which she declined, deciding instead to check herself into the Emergency Department within 15 minutes. After undergoing several medical tests, it was confirmed that Harris had sustained a spinal fracture, requiring her to recuperate at home. Following her release from the hospital, she made contact with the MBTA Customer Service line to express her concerns regarding the accessibility issues at the station. Harris is not seeking legal action but wants the agency to acknowledge and rectify the situation to prevent it from occurring in the future. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has stated that they are reviewing the incident and are currently communicating with Harris to address her concerns. They regret her troubling experience and affirm their ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility at their facilities. Harris has expressed fear and uncertainty about returning to the medical center after the incident, despite her longstanding relationship with her doctors. The situation emphasizes the need for improved safety and accessibility measures within public transportation systems, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, to ensure their safety while using these vital services.