Her fall immediately triggered the train's emergency brake, and the operator took a few minutes to look around the train to see what was wrong. Overlooking Lin's body, he resumed trip, running over her with six cars. Then ten more trains also ran over her:
Lin had been walking between the fourth and fifth cars of the 10-car train when she slipped. After service resumed, 10 more trains passed over her horribly mangled remains before anyone noticed.MTA investigators have determined that the train operator, a 12-year-veteran, did not spend enough time searching, basically dashing whatever survival chances Lin might have had after her initial fall. He has reportedly been demoted to tower operator.
It was not clear when the original accident happened, but the body was discovered at about 3 p.m.
The tragedy occurred just north of the Kings Highway station, where the line runs below ground in an open cut where visibility presumably is better than in a tunnel.
Her body was in such bad shape that cops had to check missing-person reports to find out who she was.
Lin, who lived in Astoria, had attended SUNY Albany on a scholarship and was actively involved in the Asian American Alliance. She was cremated and buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn in early April.