Metro

Suicide is leading cause of subway-passenger deaths: MTA data

Suicide by subway is the leading cause of straphanger deaths — representing 51 percent of all fatalities, an analysis of three years of MTA data shows.

And with 57 percent of all rail deaths this year — 16 of 28 — chalked up to suicide, 2013 remains on a grim pace.

From 2010 to 2012 there were a total of 153 deaths by subway trains — and 78 were believed to be suicides, according to data obtained by The Post through a Freedom of Information Act request.

In 2010, a staggering 69 percent of all subway deaths were suicides, or 35 out of 51 total fatalities.

The cases, detailed in incident reports by the MTA, are presented in a matter-of-fact language that belies the ghastly reality.

“[Victim] laid down on s/b express track when s/b train struck [victim] and cut him in half,” reads a Feb. 3, 2010, account about the 33rd Street station.

On Friday, two more people committed subway suicide, including a man who jumped in front of a C train at West 23rd Street and a man who positioned his neck on the elevated tracks at Seneca Avenue in Queens, decapitating himself. His severed head tumbled down to the street below, cops said.

Stations with the most suicides — two each — include Harlem’s 125th Street; 21st Street Queensbridge; 96th Street on the Upper West Side; and Union Turnpike.

The deadliest station — with one suicide and three accidental deaths from 2010 to 2012 — was Union Square. Stations along 14th Street west of Union Square had five deaths during that same span, data reveal.

Meanwhile, homicide by train is exceedingly rare — just two people died after being pushed on the tracks in the three-year span, both in 2012.

All other deaths were accidental, with straphangers being struck climbing on the tracks or falling to their doom in the path of an oncoming train.

Experts said subway suicide is generally a surefire way to end it all — which is what makes it so appealing to those on the brink.

“Believe it or not, when someone sets out to kill themselves they are worried that they will just get maimed, but when you jump in front of a train, that’s it, you die,” said psychiatrist Rami Kaminski.

But not always.

Over the three-year span, a total of 118 people tried to kill themselves — but about 34 percent, or 40 of them, failed, according to the MTA data.

On April 27, 2010, a person jumped in front of a southbound F train, “causing partial amputation of [victim’s] left foot,” according to MTA records.

Officials said the agency must do more to keep blood off the tracks.

“It’s time for the MTA to recognize that tackling this problem will require an all-hands-on-deck approach that includes better early-warning systems to detect people on our subway tracks, as well as input from mental health professionals,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who called the suicide rate “alarming and eye-opening.”

The MTA said subway deaths have held constant over the past decade, and that it’s aggressively launched an ad campaign to promote safety.

The agency is experimenting with “intrusion detectors” which would identify if someone has entered the track bed. The agency has met with “several vendors” and aim to launch a pilot program, according to spokesman Kevin Ortiz, who said the it could begin later this year, but could not cite cost or stations.

FINAL LEAP: For the despondent, jumping in front of a train is quick. Union Turnpike (above) in Queens is one of the leading “suicide” stations.

FINAL LEAP: For the despondent, jumping in front of a train is quick. Union Turnpike (above) in Queens is one of the leading “suicide” stations. (Matthew McDermott)