Community Corner

Man Runs Around MacArthur BART Station, Delays Trains

The man also ran onto Highway 24, where westbound traffic was backed up to the Caldecott Tunnel.

By Bay City News Service

Authorities have detained a man who threw a monkey wrench in today's morning commute by running around the MacArthur BART station and prompting the station's closure.

The problem began shortly before 5:30 a.m. when BART learned there was a man on the roof of the station, BART spokeswoman Luna Salaver said.

Authorities talked him down, but then "he started running around," Salaver said.     
The man went onto the tracks, climbed on top of a train, and also ran onto nearby state Highway 24, causing the California Highway Patrol to briefly shut down some lanes.

BART shut down power to the train the man jumped on and also to the tracks to prevent him from hurting himself, Salaver said. With the tracks powered down, trains could not pass through the station, and riders were held on the stopped trains, she said.

The man was finally detained at 7:12 a.m., Salaver said. Now that he is in custody, trains are again moving through the MacArthur station again but there were still major delays as of 7:30 a.m.

The incident also slowed the commute for drivers on Highway 24, where westbound traffic was backed up to the Caldecott Tunnel.

BART trains are getting back on schedule, but Salaver said at 7:45 a.m. that a new problem had arisen involving a disabled train in the Berkeley area. She said that was slowing BART trains heading away from Richmond. 

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here