Family Of Woman Killed In Fall From Oculus Escalator Considers Suing Port Authority

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — The family of a woman who fell to her death while on an escalator inside the Oculus is looking to sue the Port Authority, according to court filings.

Jenny Santos was riding an escalator inside the World Trade Center transportation hub when she fell 30 feet while reaching for her sister's fallen hat, authorities said. Santos, 29, and her sister had been on a downward escalator on the morning of the Feb. 11 accident.

Her family is considering a wrongful death lawsuit accusing the authority, which owns and operates the $4 billion facility, of negligence.

John Tumelty, an attorney for the family, said in court documents filed Monday that he was investigating Santos's death and seeking additional information from the transit agency. Tumelty said in the documents that he'd requested video surveillance from that morning, but that the Port Authority had refused to release the footage, citing an ongoing investigation.

Tumelty is asking a Manhattan judge to order the video handed over. A Port Authority spokesman declined to comment on the court filings or Tumelty's request.

"I believe that there exists a good and meritorious cause of action in negligence, however it is necessary for our expert to review and evaluate the video recording(s) prior to instituting suit," Tumelty wrote in the court filings.

Also included in Tumelty's filings were additional information about Santos's death. The New Jersey resident died from blunt impact injuries to her head and torso, according to a city death certificate.

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Lead image via Patch.