Man Who 'Severed Arm' Falling On West 4th Street Tracks Sues MTA

WEST VILLAGE, NY — A man who fell onto the West Village's West 4th Street station tracks and "severed" his arm is suing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, according to a new suit.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Qayad Ahmed, doesn't take issue with what caused his fall, but the fact that the MTA allegedly won't send over any of the camera footage of the fall, radio communication on the day, subsequently filed reports, and photographs taken during the course of the investigation.

The MTA, however, does not agree with this assessment.

"The lawsuit has not been served on the MTA and we have no comment on the comment or scope that have not been reviewed," a spokesperson from the MTA told Patch. "However, following an earlier Freedom of Information Law request, responsive documents were provided in a timely manner."

Ahmed was found around 6:33 a.m. on Aug. 4 lying on the southbound track of the West 4th Street A, B, C, D, E, F, Q station with a severed arm, according to the court document. At no point does the petition from Ahmed's own legal team explain how he ended up on the tracks.

On Sept. 14, Ahmed's attorney sent a New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to the MTA seeking video footage from the day and the other previously-mentioned records.

The MTA sent an email back acknowledging the request but said it would take up to 90 days to gather what was being asked for, according to the petition.

The MTA also told Ahmed's legal team that platform surveillance video is considered exempt from FOIL requests due to security reasons, and is released only in response to a properly served subpoena.

The other materials outside the video footage asked for within the FOIL are being reviewed by the MTA.

"Respondents' (MTA) failure to provide any of the requested records, reports and audio radio communication, and their claim that it would take at least 90 days to respond to a simple FOIL request, when they obviously know where to find this information, constitutes a constructive denial and/or a blanket denial of Petitioner's FOIL request," reads the petition.

Ahmed's legal team located at least three surveillance cameras on the platform where he fell.

It is still unclear what Ahmed's team will argue if granted the footage.