A 65-year-old woman is recovering after police say she was pushed onto the subway tracks in The Bronx in an unprovoked attack at the East 180th St. station. A suspect is in custody and charges are pending, according to the New York City Police Dept.
The victim, Lydia Zuñiga, spoke by phone with NBC New York from her hospital bed at St. Barnabas Hospital, describing the moment she was shoved from behind on the northbound 5 platform in the Van Nest neighborhood.
“I turned around to see if the train was coming and next thing I know I just feel his hands behind my back that literally just pushed me,” Zuñiga said.
Zuñiga was headed to work at NYU, where she has been employed for 12 years as a security guard.
“I go to work every day, same time,” Zuñiga said.
She described the serious injuries she is recovering from.
“My leg is broken in three places, I have three fractures. They operated to clean out, the blisters and the metal and things like that (are) on my leg from before,” Zuñiga said. “Previously, I had a knee operation. I had knee replacement,.
The NYPD said the attacker approached Zuñiga from behind and pushed her onto the tracks. Police said the attack was unprovoked.
The incident left some riders at the station calling for additional safety measures.
“They should be putting up more barriers, especially when the trains are coming,” rider Elian Moreno said. “Or, at least, having more police officers at least roaming the station, so everybody is kept safe.”
Others said the randomness of the attack has made them uneasy.
“It could be your mother or your grandmother, it’s not right,” rider Jesús Herrera said.
“The world is going crazy,” another commuter added.
“That’s crazy and that’s messed up,” a witness identified as Kamel said.
Zuñiga’s cousin, Annie Alvarado, told NBC New York she is grateful to the person she says helped her cousin after the push.
“A woman that goes to work, trying to make ends meet, so anybody could and try to take her life. This shouldn’t be happening,” Alvarado said.
Alvarado described the helper staying with Zuñiga until first responders arrived.
“When this man threw her to the tracks, and (an) angel came, and grabbed her, and held her, and he didn’t leave her side until the fire department and the police men came,” Alvarado said.
“I wish that he would come forward so we could thank him and he has our blessing for the way he took care of my cousin,” Alvarado said.
Zuñiga also credited that person with helping her survive the ordeal.
“If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know what would have happened, Zuñiga said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.