A routine morning Metrorail ride turned into a frightening experience for one man on Friday, who said the train doors closed right on his neck while he was trying to exit the train.
"I was in shock," said passenger Oscar Lujan. "I [was] wondering, 'Is this actually happening?'"
Lujan was getting off the train at the New York Avenue station around 8 a.m. when got trapped between the doors. He said the doors closed so fast that he felt he didn't have enough time to get out of the way. After that, he feared the train would take off while he was still half-in, half-out of the train car.
He started shouting for help, while he and other passengers started to pry the doors open manually. He said it was another 20 seconds before the doors reopened and he was able to free himself.
Lujan, a self-described experienced Metro rider, said he didn't recall hearing the familiar warning chimes that play just before the Metro doors usually close. "I feel [the doors] closed prematurely," Lujan said.
Lujan said he had throbbing neck pain and a headache after the incident, but he was otherwise OK. He said he lost his glasses in the scuffle. He reported the incident to Metro, which said Friday night that it is investigating and trying to figure out whether it was caused by a door malfunctioning or something else. The transit agency also plans to interview the train operator who was on duty at the time.
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