Man Who Fell Into Tracks Was Vision Impaired and On Cell Phone

A 49-year-old man with impaired vision was talking on his cell phone when he fell down onto commuter rail tracks at Back Bay Station shortly after 9:30 a.m.

He landed on his feet with no serious injuries, but said his back and hand hurt and was taken to Tufts Medical Center to be evaluated, MBTA Spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. The incident occured on the commuter rail side of Back Bay Station, where there is no third rail.

"There was no train in the vicinity," Pesaturo said. "Within a minute, he was helped back to the platform by some people waiting for an Amtrak train. There was no apparent sign of injury, and the man was standing on his own a minute or two later."

According to Jessica Keener, @JessicaKeener4, on Twitter, Keener's husband and three other men pulled the man to safety.

The victim told Transit Police his vision is impaired. While walking along the platform he said his attention was focused on looking down at his cell phone, and he walked off the edge.