A man in his 50s killed himself by jumping in front of a Metro train at the Foggy Bottom station Thursday afternoon, while Metro officials discussed their long-delayed plans to prevent a spate of suicides on the system.
The man appears to have intentionally gotten into the path of the inbound train around 2:12 p.m., said Metro spokesman Dan Stessel. He was pulled from the tracks and transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Train service was stopped at Foggy Bottom before the evening rush began, and later trains shared a single track in the area.
His suicide was the 61st attempt on the rail system since 2005 and the fourth so far this year, according to Metro. But nearly a third of people survive getting struck by trains, albeit with massive injuries, according to Metro. A woman who attempted to kill herself at Huntington station over the weekend had her foot amputated.
Metro pledged to begin a suicide prevention program in 2009 but it has been beset by delays. Officials said Thursday that nearly 200 train operators and station managers have been trained to watch for suicidal riders, though 700 more need to be trained this year.
Also, it plans to post signs with a toll-free number hotline in stations later this year.
