What Georgia officials say caused the wild escalator incident

Escalator Failure at MARTA Station: A Combination of Factors Led to Injuries

An investigation into an escalator malfunction at a MARTA station in Atlanta has revealed that a combination of high passenger volume and missing drive belts contributed to several injuries. The incident occurred as people were leaving a Beyoncé concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, according to findings from the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office.

The investigation focused on the Vine City MARTA escalator, which failed on July 15. The report found that four drive belts were missing—three from the top of the drive motor and one from the bottom. This issue was identified as a key factor in the accident.

However, experts in the field have raised concerns about additional factors that may have contributed to the failure. Anthony Boom, a former senior electrical engineer at KONE with over 35 years of experience in the escalator industry, suggested that the cause might be related to a power cut to the motor due to safety devices tripping. He emphasized that the break did not engage properly, leading to the malfunction.

Dennis Olson, an escalator and elevator expert with more than 35 years of experience, echoed similar concerns. He has inspected, tested, and serviced over 1,000 escalators, including some used by MARTA. Olson pointed out that it is unclear whether the missing belts were present at the time of the incident or if they came off during the event. He also noted that the report’s conclusion about the cause of the incident may be based on assumptions rather than concrete evidence.

High Passenger Volume and Operational Issues

The report also highlighted that the high number of passengers on the escalator played a role in the incident. It stated that the combination of the missing drive belts and the large crowd would have caused an over-normal operating speed condition, leading to injuries.

Boom observed that the way people boarded the escalator was uneven. “You do not see two people on every step. You see nobody on some steps,” he said. However, Olson cautioned against drawing conclusions without reviewing video footage of the incident. He argued that understanding the exact number of steps in use and the weight of individuals on those steps is essential before making any definitive claims.

According to MARTA, a person began screaming and running inside the station, which triggered a stampede on the escalator. The escalator then sped up before suddenly stopping. Video footage captured victims lying on the ground, gripping their feet, shins, and other body parts. Eight people were taken to the hospital, with seven suffering cuts and scrapes, one with a broken ankle, and another who declined treatment. A total of 21 people were injured, according to officials.

Personal Accounts and Calls for Better Crowd Management

Britney Dogan, who was injured along with her husband, Henry, and their two children, expressed frustration over the lack of crowd control. She and her family were on the escalator after the concert when it failed. All are recovering from bruises, with Henry reporting a broken leg and Britney suffering torn ankle ligaments. They described the flow of people on the escalators as normal, with no pushing or shoving.

“We controlled it as a people very well. There was no pushing. There was no shoving. There was no ‘hurry up and move.’ We as a people did that,” Britney said. However, she and Henry both emphasized that better crowd management should have been in place to prevent such an incident.

Responses from Officials

Following the incident, Atlanta City Councilmember Byron Amos, chair of the council’s transportation committee, stated that he had been briefed on the event by a MARTA representative. He referred to the incident as an “unfortunate accident” and mentioned that the movement and number of people were cited as contributing factors.

MARTA officials initially claimed that the escalators had undergone a maintenance check days before the malfunction. However, it remains unclear what specific aspects of the escalator were inspected during this check. Rhonda Allen, MARTA’s interim CEO, stated at a board meeting that the escalator itself was not at fault, but rather the overload caused the reaction.

Despite these statements, the incident has sparked ongoing discussions about the need for improved safety measures, regular inspections, and better crowd management at public transit stations.