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Elderly Woman Dies After Escalator Fall At LIRR Station In Lindenhurst

LINDENHURST, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- An elderly woman died in an escalator accident at the Long Island Rail Road station in Lindenhurst Tuesday afternoon.

Shortly before 2 p.m., an 88-year-old woman apparently fell on the escalator serving the station's platform.  Now, investigators want to know how the woman died. Some commuters said the escalator is out of service quite often.

An off-duty LIRR assistant conductor attempted to assist the woman to no avail when the accident occurred.

1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon Reports The Investigation In Ongoing

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One firefighter told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall that the woman's clothing got caught.

WCBS 880's Sophia Hall Reports The Escalator Will Be Taken Out Of Service

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Sources told CBS 2 the woman was on her way to work and was riding the escalator up to the platform when her dress got caught in the escalator steps before she fell backward to her death.

"There's no elevator. So there's no access for elderly people like the person who passed away to get to the top of the platform.  The stairs for her must have been a burden and the escalator was her only option," commuter Joe Anchor told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.

Commuter, Deborah Ramos said the escalator needs safety updates. Ramos nearly fell on the same escalator when she says it malfunctioned Tuesday morning.

LIRR Escalator
(credit: Sonia Rincon, 1010 WINS)

"The right handrail just stopped halfway through and I myself lost my balance. So it wouldn't be shocking that someone else that's elderly or disabled lost their balance and injured themselves," Ramos said.

The incident is currently under investigation by MTA police.  The escalator was immediately taken out of service for inspection, the LIRR said.

The transit agency offered it's "heart-felt condolences" to the woman's family.

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