Photo Credit: A downtown Atlanta MARTA station escalator / MARTA
At least 11 were injured at an Atlanta transit station following a Beyoncé concert after a stampede broke out and caused an escalator malfunction.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter set might include a shiny new gold horse, but fans weren’t expecting the stampede that took place in Atlanta Tuesday night after the show in a nearby MARTA transit station. At least 11 concertgoers were injured when an escalator malfunctioned following a “stampede,” according to officials.
After the show, fans were on their way home and heading down the escalator at a downtown Atlanta transit station when someone suddenly screamed and ran. According to MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher, witnesses reported that a woman was “possibly startled by an insect.”
The scream startled others on the escalator, which witnesses say prompted the crowd to “stampede” the escalator. The sudden increase in riders caused the escalator to “temporarily speed up and then stop suddenly.” At least 11 people were injured, with seven of those taken to the hospital with “cuts and scrapes,” and one with a broken ankle.
“It felt like someone was going to get trampled,” said Amber Anderson, who was among those injured during the incident. “The ride home was supposed to be happy, […] and we’re both crying because it could have been way worse.”
The incident is still being investigated. It’s unclear whether the escalator’s sudden speed increase resulted from a lack of maintenance. Authorities are also looking into whether the escalator was last inspected or repaired. As of this writing, the escalator remains blocked off.
Approximately 64,284 people took MARTA to the four Atlanta shows, according to data from the transit agency. The company notes it ran extra trains before and after each show to accommodate the increase in patrons, with no incidents or significant problems reported.
Howeer, MARTA has faced other issues during large events in the city, including a broken train that prevented some Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) Peachtree Road Race runners from arriving at the starting line on time. Last month, riders also encountered extensive delays after a Shakira concert.
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