MITO, Japan — A 72-year-old man died after his suit jacket became entangled in the handrail of an escalator at JR Mito Station in Ibaraki Prefecture, local police reported. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, leaving the man collapsed near the escalator’s exit before he succumbed to his injuries hours later.
The victim, identified as Mamoru Suzuki, a resident of Hitachi in Ibaraki Prefecture, was discovered face-down at the exit of an escalator linking the station’s platform to its concourse. Authorities noted that the back of his suit jacket had been caught in the lower part of the escalator’s handrail. Suzuki was initially conscious when found but lost consciousness shortly afterward. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he passed away approximately four hours later.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, including how the jacket became trapped and the precise cause of death. The incident has raised concerns about escalator safety at the busy station, though no official conclusions have been released pending the investigation’s outcome.
JR Mito Station serves as a key transportation hub in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, and the escalator in question connects critical areas of the facility. Authorities have not yet indicated whether mechanical failure or human error contributed to the tragedy.
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