Man in Critical Condition After Shea Stadium Fall
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A 2- 1/2-story tumble from a Shea Stadium escalator left an out-of-state fan fighting for his life, authorities said.
Justin Larson, a 26-year-old medical student and St. Louis, Mo., native, was discovered by police around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, lying unconscious near the Gate D escalators. He had been attempting to slide down the escalator’s rail but lost his balance and fell 25 feet to the ground, according to police.
Mr. Larson was taken to New York Hospital Queens with a collapsed lung, cracked ribs, and bruising on his brain. He is listed in critical condition.
According to a New York Post report, a friend who chose not to be named said Mr. Larson had been “goofing off” on a broken escalator when he fell.
Police said they did not know if alcohol had been a factor, but they were investigating.
When Antonio Narainasami of Brooklyn fell 30 feet to his death from a Shea Stadium escalator in mid-April, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission opened an investigation.
Citi Field, the new Mets stadium set to open next spring, will include 14 more elevators than the 44-year-old Shea, giving fans a safer way to and from their seats.
Representatives for the Mets did not return requests for comment.
