A physical confrontation at the 34th Street Station of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resulted in a 38-year-old man being fatally struck by a train on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
Chaz Wearing, 40, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter following the assault that occurred on the platform for the Market-Frankford line at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Video evidence obtained by NBC10 shows Wearing in a dispute that escalated into a fight, ending with him punching another man, causing him to fall onto the tracks and be struck by an oncoming train.
Wearing, who police believe is homeless and with an existing bench warrant for an unrelated strangulation case in Delaware County, was apprehended at the 40th Street Station shortly after the incident. His past criminal history extends to Clinton and Lycoming counties.
The Philadelphia Police Department, with Inspector Kpana Massaquoi spearheading the investigation, has stated that the circumstances leading to the altercation are still being determined.
The event prompted the closure of the 34th Street Station for several hours, affecting the area adjacent to Drexel University’s campus. SEPTA rerouted service between 30th and 40th street stations, providing shuttle buses to accommodate riders in both directions.
The incident is currently being investigated by SEPTA Police. They are working to ascertain the relationship between the two men and the cause of the fatal encounter. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office noted that the charges against Wearing are subject to change as the investigation continues.
This incident has raised safety concerns among SEPTA passengers. One passenger, Jacob Davidson, expressed his shock, stating that such events were out of the ordinary for the area he considered safe. The fatality has also drawn attention to the issue of homelessness within the city’s transit system.
SEPTA officials have not yet released the identity of the man who was killed. They are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.
