MANHATTAN, NEW YORK - A routine commute turned into a scene of panic at a New York City subway station. A woman attempting to save a few dollars on a fare found herself trapped in a mechanical vice when the new high tech security gates clamped shut around her neck.
The Mechanical Trap
The terrifying incident occurred at the Broadway Lafayette station. According to technicians, the woman was attempting to sneak through the gate directly behind another commuter to avoid paying the fare. However, the new system is equipped with sensitive sensors designed to detect tailgating.
As the first person passed, the sensors picked up the second body and the glass doors instantly snapped shut. The woman was too slow to clear the gap and the doors clamped onto her neck, leaving her head stuck on one side and her body on the other.
The guillotine Effect
A technician explained that once the doors clamp down, the only way to free a trapped person is to shut off the automated power and manually force the gates open. Bystanders watched in shock as an MTA worker struggled to release the woman from what online viewers described as a modern day guillotine.
One commuter called the new security measures dystopian, joking that it felt like dealing with a controlling boyfriend. Others wondered if the design overlooked the very real risk of accidental decapitation.
A Dystopian Commute
The NYPD stated they had no official record of the incident, but the MTA confirmed the footage was from the early hours of their new pilot program. The agency has been installing these new gates and other barriers to stop the surge of fare evasion, though critics argue the millions spent on the technology has done little to stop people from jumping the turnstiles.
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