Police: Man, 72, Pushed Onto Subway Tracks In Harlem

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect was being held Saturday for allegedly pushing a 72-year-old man onto the subway tracks at a stop in Harlem.

The man was standing on the 145th Street A and C train station with his wife Friday afternoon, when the suspect shoved him onto the platform, officials told 1010 WINS.

Police: Man, 72, Pushed Onto Subway Tracks In Harlem

The victim, Sho Kuan Lin, suffered a cracked skull and broken collarbone, but was rescued by commuters who jumped down after him before a train came that could have struck him.

"He is helped off the roadbed by people who are on the station. They went into the roadbed itself and helped him up, and his wife assisted as well," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

It was the victim's wife who helped point out the assailant to police, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.

The victim as reported in serious condition at St. Luke's Hospital. His pastor Eliyah Sheera stopped by to visit him and expressed concern when speaking with CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.

"You know he is still dangerously ill. You know he's not coming out yet. He was lying there and the machines are everywhere helping him to breathe," Shira said.

Lin's wife has been holding vigil at his hospital bed, Shira explained.

"She's very distressed. You know, kind of, you know what is going on and what happened," Shira said.

The suspect, Rudralall Baldeo, 57, was charged with attempted murder and felony assault. Police said he approached the victim from behind and might have been drunk at the time.

Pastor Shira said that Baldeo needs prayers as well as Lin.

"From the standpoint of the people that do that. I think they just don't have the peace or the love. They feel frustrated. You know, dispair, there's no purpose in life so we need to do something for them," Pstor Shira said.

Police were looking for witnesses to the attack. They asked anyone who might have witnessed the attack to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

At least two people were pushed onto the subway tracks with deadly consequences in the past yer.

In December 2012, Bangladeshi immigrant Sunando Sen was shoved into the path of a 7 train at the elevated 40th Street-Lowery Street stop in Queens. Witnesses said a woman sitting on a platform bench suddenly shot forward, shoving the unsuspecting man onto the tracks and directly into the path of the train.