Mentally Disturbed Man Killed by Third Rail at 75th Street Station in Woodhaven: NYPD

QUEENS, NY — A mentally disturbed man was killed on Monday morning after wandering onto the northbound tracks at 75th Street-Elderts Lane in Woodhaven.

Police said people at the station observed the man talking to himself incoherently as he jumped onto the tracks. While officials were trying to shut down power at the station, the man touched the third rail and was killed, a police spokesperson said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Early reports indicated the man was struck by a train at the J, Z stop in Woodhaven, but the NYPD clarified midday on Monday that no train was involved, and he was actually killed falling onto the third rail.

FDNY reported to the scene at 9:54 a.m., and the man was in cardiac arrest when emergency medical services arrived on the scene, the FDNY said.

According to the MTA, there was no J-train service between Broadway Junction and Jamaica Center-Parsons Archer in both directions due to the accident. Train service was resumed with delays at 11 a.m., the MTA said.

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