SALT LAKE CITY – We are getting a first look at surveillance video that shows an elderly woman falling while running to catch a FrontRunner Train in Clearfield Thursday morning, and two passengers from that train say they were upset with a Utah Transit Authority employee who they said did nothing to help as the train pulled away.
FOX 13 News' Jeff McAdam first reported the incident Thursday, and Friday UTA executives addressed the issue, saying they began investigating the incident as soon as it was brought to their attention.
Friday afternoon, UTA showed FOX 13 News the surveillance footage, and the footage shows the woman falling in front of the train. But, UTA says at that point, the train’s doors were closed and the train was already in motion
Just after 7:26 a.m., the FrontRunner train prepares to leave the platform at the station when an elderly woman begins to run toward the doors, trying to catch the train.
“Concerned about someone that's fallen down and may be hurt,” said Bruce Cardon, a General Manager for UTA. “We want our customers to be safe, and we don’t want anyone to be injured in our system in any way.”
In the video, the woman face-plants just feet from the door. Watching the footage, Cardon said he’s concerned for the woman’s safety, but, he also points out the train doors were already shut, and the train was moving. He said the train host could not have stopped the train at that point, but he admits she could have called in for help.
“As part of our expectations of all our employees is that, if there is any kind injury, or a potential foul, those kinds of things, those are reported so that we can follow-up on them and make sure the person is OK,” Cardon said.
Cardon said he understands the passengers’ concern for the woman’s safety, but he said the operator likely never saw her running in the first place.
“One of the concerns that I have is that that train was committed to leave, and once the train is committed to leave, that train is going, and if you have to run for the train: It’s not your train,” Cardon said. “You gotta wait for the next one, and recognize that the trains are going to leave on time.”
UTA said the woman was viewed on security cameras getting back up after the fall, and about 30 minutes later she was observed getting on another train at the platform. While her condition is unknown, UTA officials said she appeared to be walking without difficulty when she boarded that second train.
