1991 Union Square derailment

1991 Union Square derailment
The damaged R62 car at the site of the accident
Details
DateAugust 28, 1991
12:12 a.m.
LocationNorth of 14th Street–Union Square
Coordinates40°44′10″N 73°59′22″W / 40.73602°N 73.98952°W / 40.73602; -73.98952
CountryUnited States
LineIRT Lexington Avenue Line
OperatorNew York City Transit Authority
Incident typeDerailment
CauseIntoxication, driver error, speeding
Statistics
Trains1
Passengers216
Deaths5
Injured161 (16 seriously)
Track diagram
Direction of train
(path shown in green)
First car of derailed train

On August 28, 1991, a 4 Lexington Avenue Express train on the New York City Subway's IRT Lexington Avenue Line derailed as it was about to enter 14th Street–Union Square station, killing five people. It was the worst accident on the subway system since the 1928 Times Square derailment. The motorman was found at fault for alcohol intoxication and excessive speed, and served time in prison for manslaughter.