OAKLAND — The MacArthur BART station has reopened to commuters and is restoring full service after a multi-hour closure during the afternoon rush hour when a person died after being struck by a train, authorities said.
BART sent word of a major delay, initially described as an unspecified medical emergency, at 3:03 p.m.. The station was closed around 3:20 p.m., BART spokesman Jim Allison said, but San Francisco- and Warm Springs-bound trains were allowed to stop around 4 p.m..
Pittsburg-Bay Point and Richmond-bound trains continued through the station without letting off passengers, some of whome had to double back from Rockridge or Ashby stations.
Major delay at MACR in PITT, FRMT, RICH and SF dirs due to a major medical emergency.
— SFBARTalert (@SFBARTalert) March 8, 2018
Stn closure at MACR due to a major medical emergency.
— SFBARTalert (@SFBARTalert) March 8, 2018
At 4:30 p.m., Allison said Oakland firefighters who were part of the response were able to uncouple a train and that arrival of deputies from the Alameda County coroner’s office would begin “the next stage of the recovery process.” It was not immediately known if the person struck on the train trackway was a man or woman.
Shortly before 5:45 p.m., coroner’s representatives arrived, and no trains were running through the station in a full closure, but the station reopened shortly after 6:35 p.m., BART spokesman Chris Fillippi said.
AC Transit buses were providing mutual aid to passengers at 40th Street and MacArthur Boulevard.
During MacArthur Station closure @rideact is providing mutual aid to BART customers in the area of 40th and MacArthur
— SFBART (@SFBART) March 8, 2018
AC Transit was offering bus service to MacArthur from Rockridge BART via the No. 51A, from 19th Street BART station via the No. 57 or 33, and from Ashby BART via the No. 18.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180. Contact Harry Harris at 510-208-6443.