Eric D. Lawrence, and Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

When a 53-year-old man was killed last month after falling onto the tracks of the Detroit People Mover, the train continued its route uninterrupted for eight more stops through downtown Detroit, documents obtained by the Free Press show.

People Mover staff appear to have been unaware that the man, Michael Whyte of Detroit, had fallen to his death on the automated rail system’s tracks last month until they were notified later by police that someone had been hit.

The revelation comes in documents of the incident obtained by the Free Press showing an approximately 13- or 14-minute gap between the time Whyte fell between two rail cars onto the tracks while trying to board a train at the Times Square Station and when police contacted People Mover staff.

People Mover's first fatality is Detroit man, 53

The documents show People Mover staff dealing with power issues at approximately the time the incident happened and a “loud knocking sound” as the train continued on its route, passing several stations along the way.

Detroit police were notified of the incident by passengers calling 911 after seeing a body on the tracks, according to one of the documents.

The apparent failure of People Mover staff to detect that someone had fallen onto the tracks could point to issues with how the system is monitored.

A so-called unusual occurrence report of the May 15 incident says People Mover staff observed the man enter the station and proceed to the platform.

“The patron was seen pacing the platform, staggering before the train arrived and drinking from a bottle. When the train arrived, he staggered toward the vehicle, reached out to balance himself and fell between the cars. The train departed,” the report says.

The report provides a time of 8:28 p.m. for that entire sequence of events, but indicates that it was not until 8:50 p.m. that People Mover staff learned of the incident from police and cut the power to the trains. Whyte is believed to have fallen onto the tracks at about 8:36 or 8:37 p.m.

Strangely, the report showing 11 occurrences connected to the fatality, from power issues at 8:33 p.m. to the removal of Whyte’s body at midnight, are all in chronological order except for the description at 8:28 p.m. of People Mover personnel observing a man enter the station and later fall between the cars. That piece is the next-to-last item on the list.

A brochure posted at the People Mover website notes that People Mover stations are monitored by closed-circuit TV cameras as well as other types of voice monitoring equipment.

“These devices are observed 24 hours per day by Central Control operators who have overall responsibility for the coordination of system operations,” according to the brochure, which notes that “control operators have override capabilities to cope with unpredictable situations which may occur during normal operation.”

A document released in response to a Freedom of Information request shows the body as reported at two separate locations, two stops apart. In a Detroit Transit Police Department incident report, four witnesses ages 16-18 said that as they rode the train to the Broadway station — two stops past Times Square — they saw the man lying along the tracks with his right leg severed. They exited and called 911.

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In the same document, transit police reported arriving at the Times Square station to find Whyte's body lying along the tracks, "severely injured," with a severed right leg, severe trauma to the abdomen, cuts to the head and other remains along the train rails. Times for the body sightings aren't specified, and the incident report's time frame is described as from 8:43 p.m. to (blank), according to the document.

Video provided to the Free Press in response to a Freedom of Information Act request shows a man, presumably Whyte, staggering on the platform before he would have tried to board the train. The initial video, however, does not show Whyte actually falling, appearing to cut away before the key moment. After the Free Press asked if all of the video had been provided in response to the FOIA request, a clip that had been "inadvertently not included" was sent. It shows the man disappear as he heads to the train, apparently as he falls to the tracks.

The Free Press sent a series of follow-up questions — such as whether any staff members were suspended in connection with the incident — to John Roach, a spokesman for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; People Mover spokeswoman Ericka Alexander; and William Reising, an attorney with the law firm of Plunkett Cooney, which handled the FOIA request. Alexander said the Michigan Department of Transportation, which functions in an oversight role for the People Mover, had given the system clearance to operate, but she said she cannot comment on the additional questions. Reising noted that litigation is anticipated on the case.

The death was ruled an accident resulting from multiple injuries, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's office. Toxicology reports are pending before the autopsy report is finalized.

The People Mover system is shut down for previously scheduled work "to replace a rail switch and special section of track along the guideway," and is scheduled to resume operations at 6:30 a.m. June 27.

The People Mover system is a fleet of 12 driverless cars that runs on an elevated single-track loop, provides connections between the courts and administrative offices of several levels of government, sports arenas, exhibition centers, hotels and commercial districts. The fare is 75 cents. Round-trip on the system is about 15 minutes. The cars are capable of traveling at a maximum 56 m.p.h., although the speed on the People Mover system is supposed to be capped at 30 m.p.h.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @_ericdlawrence. Contact Robert Allen: rallen@freepress.com.

Timeline from reports and video:

8:28 p.m.: People Mover personnel say they observe man entering station. He is later seen staggering.

8:33 p.m.: Power issue reported, although if connected to the incident would appear to be out of sequence.

8:37 p.m.: Man apparently falls onto tracks at Times Square station.

8:43 p.m.: A transit officer reports a loud knocking sound as the train leaves the Millender Center station.

8:45 p.m.: Staff discussion about where to stop train after report of loud noise coming from underneath.

8:50 p.m.: People Mover operator informed by Detroit Police that someone has been hit by a train. "Power kill and emergency brakes applied. ..."

9:26 p.m.: Witnesses escorted to training room for questioning.

Midnight: Body removed from guideway.