A 72-year-old man was found collapsed on an escalator at JR Mito Station and later died.Investigations have revealed that footage from a security camera near the scene showed the man falling at the exit of the escalator. I found this out through interviews with the people involved. Police are investigating the cause of death, as part of the man's jacket was caught in the railing when he was discovered.

At around 9:00 pm on the 26th, a 72-year-old office worker living in Hitachi City was found collapsed on the escalator going up from the JR Mito Station platform to the ticket gate, and was confirmed dead at the hospital he was transported to. Ta.



According to police, the man was found lying face down at the exit of an escalator, with the back hem of his suit jacket stuck in the area where the handrail was caught.



When police examined security cameras near the scene, they found that the man was standing on the escalator, but the footage showed him falling at the top of the escalator, according to an interview with investigators.



According to JR East's Mito branch, the escalator was moving when other passengers found the man collapsed, but it has since stopped.



The cause of the man's death has not been determined, but he was reportedly conscious when he was found.



Police suspect that his jacket may have been caught in the accident after he fell at the exit of the escalator, and are investigating the circumstances in more detail and investigating the cause of his death.

54 escalator-related accidents in over 12 years

According to a summary by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, there were 54 escalator-related accidents over the 12-year period from December 2010, when records remain, to the end of May 2023, with 2 fatalities and 42 injuries resulting in injuries. was.



Of these,


there were three accidents in which children were caught in handrail traps, all of which resulted in injuries to their hands.



Additionally,


there have been many accidents where escalators suddenly stop, causing users to lose their balance and fall, resulting in injuries.



In addition,


in 2017, there was an accident in Kagawa Prefecture in which a man pushing a wheelchair fell while using the wheelchair, and a woman who was behind was caught in the wheelchair and died.

Expert: “Hold on to the handrails and don’t walk.”

Professor Emeritus Shoichi Toki of Edogawa University, who is an expert on how to use escalators, says, ``It is important to recognize that escalators are machines that are completely different from stairs when using them.Always hold on to the handrail belt while walking to prevent falling. In addition, please stand still within the yellow frame to avoid getting caught. Also, be careful as some clothing and footwear materials, such as long skirts, mufflers, and resin sandals, can easily get caught. "It's necessary. When you get off the train, it's dangerous if you look at your smartphone or do it by feeling, so please be sure to watch your step carefully."



Furthermore, regarding what to do if you find someone falling on an escalator, ``Currently, escalators do not stop suddenly even if you press the emergency stop button, but instead slow down slightly before stopping. In order for the escalator to stop while you are holding on to the handrail, please notify those around you of the accident and immediately press the emergency stop button.The location of the button varies depending on the model, so be sure to check before getting on the escalator. I want you to do that," he said.