A federal investigation into the September death of a woman on BART whose dog’s leash got caught in the doors of a leaving train will center on the transit agency’s safety procedures and passenger safety awareness.
According to preliminary information released Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board, investigators are examining the events that led up to the woman’s tragic demise at the Powell Street BART station on Sept. 13.
The woman, 41-year-old Amy Adams, had her dog on a leash attached to her backpack, the report stated. She was about to board the Dublin/Pleasanton train, before stepping off back onto the station’s platform, according to previous reporting by KCBS Radio.
Her dog was a few steps behind her, and in a brief pause, became stuck on the train as the doors closed. The leash connecting the two was caught in the closed doors, and as the train left, the woman was dragged along the platform to her eventual death.
Tthe dog was unharmed and given to a friend of the woman.
In the wake of the tragic incident, the NTSB sent investigators to the scene to evaluate what happened.
The investigators have conducted equipment and passenger door inspections and observed the transit agency’s operations, according to the report. Investigators also collected data and conducted interviews.
The report released Thursday didn’t include any further information as to what conclusions are being drawn so far. The investigation is still ongoing.
Agencies involved in the investigation include not only BART, but also the California Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Amalgamated Transit Union.
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