PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man is dead after he was punched and fell onto the tracks at SEPTA's 34th Street Station just as a Market-Frankford Line train was pulling in.
It happened Thursday around 4:30 p.m.
Cellphone video shows two men arguing on the platform. One man, age 38, has 40-year-old Chaz Wearing by the shirt collar. Wearing then punches the man in the face. He stumbles and falls onto the tracks — seconds later, a train pulls in, striking him.
He was pronounced about an hour later.
SEPTA Transit Police took Wearing into custody after he had hopped on another train. He was nabbed at 40th Street Station by SEPTA officers.
Police say Wearing is homeless. He has a lengthy criminal record in Philadelphia including assault, reckless endangerment, and theft. There was also a bench warrant out for his arrest in Delaware County for charges of strangulation simple assault, harassment, and making terroristic threats.
He is now charged with involuntary manslaughter for this incident.
Editor's update, March 3, 2025:
Wearing was found not guilty in a bench trial. Judge Diana Anhalt acquitted Wearing of involuntary manslaughter.
