A 40-YEAR-OLD MAN BECAME STUCK AND THEN SLOWLY FATALLY STRANGLED BY AN ESCALATOR WHILE MULTIPLE PEOPLE NOTICED AND FAILED TO HELP. (PHOTO).

A 40-year-old man became stuck and then slowly fatally strangled by an escalator while multiple people noticed and failed to help.

Steven McCluskey was heading to catch the subway in the early morning hours of February 27th, 2026, when a freak accident combined with public indifference took his life. 

As Steven rode the escalator down to the subway platform at Davis station in Sommerville, Massachusetts, he stumbled and fell.

What ordinarily would have been an early morning nuisance quickly spiraled into a life or death situation when Steven's clothing became caught in the escalator and cut off his airway. 

All escalators have an emergency stop button at the top and bottom. Had anyone in that subway station pressed that button, Steven would be alive and well for the two children he left behind.

However, multiple people passed Steven by choosing to take the stairs rather than assess the situation. The few people who did seem to notice and check on him ultimately chose to just keep  heading to their destination. 

Steven laid there for 22 minutes while the escalator slowly took his life before an employee of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority noticed and hit the emergency stop.

It took another 30 minutes before Steven was freed from the escalator. When first responders arrived on the scene, Steven had no pulse, and they began life-saving measures. 

Steven was rushed to a nearby hospital where he languished for 10 days before ultimately passing away.

Steven's family is frustrated that he was left to die on the floor while multiple people seemingly ignored the dire situation unfolding in front of them. They also wonder where security was during those crucial moments when this tragedy could have been avoided. 

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Steven McCluskey.