CONCORD — Thanks to the efforts of BART staffers, local firefighters, police officers and crisis negotiators, a 52-year-old Concord man whose presence on an elevated trackway between two Antioch-line stations had stopped service Wednesday evening was safely removed Thursday morning, officials said.
Authorities said the man, whose name was not released, was removed from the elevated trackway about 2:35 a.m. Thursday and that there would not be any disruptions to morning commute service.
Authorities said the man entered the trackway of the Concord Station about 5:07 p.m. Wednesday and refused to exit, threatening to kill himself by jumping off the raised trackway. After negotiations failed, the man was physically removed from the tracks and taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, authorities said Thursday.
The incident created a frustrating commute.
According to BART tweets, trains were being held and power was shut off to both tracks at Concord while police officers contacted the person.
“The person is understood to be unstable and fire and police personnel are trying to rescue the individual safely,” one BART tweet said, replying to an inquiry. “Any harm caused will only worsen situation. Thank you for understanding and sorry for the current delay.”
Trains en route to Antioch were being turned back at the Pleasant Hill station, while County Connection buses provided mutual aid on the Nos. 11, 14, and 15 buses.
By 8:30 p.m., BART tweeted that a dozen buses were part of a mutual-aid bridge, but that passengers should expect long wait times and consider pick-ups at its Walnut Creek, Lafayette or Orinda stations.
Through last November, BART police officers had responded to at least 130 train holds per month lasting longer than five minutes due to police action, with a high of 236 in January 2019 and a low of 133 last November, according to a recent monthly report.
There is a major delay on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions due to person(s) on the track.
— BART Alert (@SFBARTalert) January 9, 2020
There is a person on the trackway by Concord. Police has made contact with the individual and are trying to move person out. Trains are being held and power is shut off on both tracks at Concord. Trains are turning back at Pleasant Hill toward SFO. https://t.co/ZIJA4U9g1Q
— BART (@SFBART) January 9, 2020
Previously trains were moving through at reduced speeds leading to minor delays around Concord. We were monitoring situation but now it has developed into something major. https://t.co/aUD4hR4Lpu https://t.co/mUryyxfukE
— BART (@SFBART) January 9, 2020
Train service has stopped between Pleasant Hill and Concord. Trains from Antioch to S.F. will turn back at Concord. Trains from SF toward Antioch will turn back at Pleasant Hill.
There is mutual aid bus service by County Connection between Pleasant Hill and Concord.
— BART (@SFBART) January 9, 2020
The person is understood to be unstable and fire and police personnel are trying to rescue the individual safely. Any harm caused will only worsen situation. Thank you for understanding and sorry for the current delay.
— BART (@SFBART) January 9, 2020
Update 8:37 pm: Major delay on the Antioch Line. Service has stopped between Pleasant Hill and Concord stations. A bus bridge has been established between with up to 12 buses. Expect long wait times; be picked up at Walnut Creek, Lafayette or Orinda if using alternative transport
— BART (@SFBART) January 9, 2020
Commuters took to Twitter to express their concerns about notification and transit delays.
Turned off lights and hvac system on train as #bartpolice #bartpd attempt to get this person off the track. Got hot QUICK on this train w/ no air. @SFBART
— Kevin R (@bay_estrian) January 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/BayAreaData/status/1215094785645539328
Check back for updates.
Harry Harris contributed to this report. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
