A man died after jumping in front of an incoming train at the Dunn Loring Metrorail station Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The unidentified victim was hit by an inbound six-car train around 1:15 p.m, causing the station to close. A police report said he intentionally placed himself in front of the train.
Fairfax County Fire Department spokesman Willie Bailey said “someone on the train witnessed somebody jumping in front of it,” adding the man “was lodged under the train.”
Metro officials did not identify the man, telling The Washington Examiner they generally don’t release the names of victims.
The incident led to delays throughout the afternoon, as Orange Line trains used one track between the Vienna and West Falls Church Metrorail stations.
Metro provided bus shuttle service between the Vienna and West Falls Church Metrorail stations to help riders move around the closed station.
The incident continues a growing trend for the transit agency, which has seen a surge in suicides recently.
The death marks at least the fifth person to commit suicide on the transit system this year, including two who jumped from a parking garage at the Shady Grove Metro station. Metro did not notify the public about either of the parking garage suicides — one in February, the other last month — because they didn’t affect service, officials said.
Another person survived this year after placing herself in front of a train.
Last year, at least nine people committed suicide on Metro property — a significant spike from the typical two per year.
A suicide-prevention program was slated to begin earlier this year but has been delayed, the Examiner first reported. The agency had touted a public education campaign for riders and a training program for all Metro employees on how to detect and stop suicidal riders. It is not clear when the program will begin.
Railroads and subway systems around the world have become a target for suicides, illustrated by similar deaths researchers are just beginning to document.
Kytja Weir contributed to this report.
