An investigation has been launched into the tragic accident as it took more than 20 minutes before an employee arrived and hit the emergency stop button.
Shocking CCTV shows the moment a dad-of-two desperately tried to free himself from a horrific escalator accident while commuters walked past.
Steven McClusky, 40, became trapped in the machinery at Davis Station in Massachusetts after stumbling while stepping off the escalator.
Disturbing footage appears to show more than a dozen people walking past as he tried to escape.
One commuter even appeared to pause and watch before turning away.
According to reports, McClusky’s coat became caught in the escalator mechanism after he lost balance at the bottom of the steps.
He desperately tried to unzip the jacket and pull himself free, but the fabric tightened around his neck and restricted his breathing. Moments later, he collapsed motionless.
Authorities said McClusky was found “pinned at the bottom of the escalator,” while a report described him as “unresponsive” with clothing “tightly lodged within the escalator steps”.
It reportedly took more than 20 minutes before an employee arrived and hit the emergency stop button.
Paramedics performed CPR at the scene before McClusky was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital, where he remained in a coma for 10 days before dying from his injuries on March 9.
In a heartbreaking tribute, his father said: “Above all, he loved being father to his two sons, Shayne and Steven, who meant the world to him.”
The MBTA described the incident as a “terrible accident” and urged members of the public to help others in distress.
But McClusky’s family say they want the transport authority to “take accountability” for his death.
His sister Shannon Flaherty said: “That’s the main thing I don’t want — for them to say they did nothing wrong.”
An investigation into the tragedy remains ongoing.
