Bronx Post Reporter 1
A puzzling and alarming incident at Penn Station has left investigators searching for answers after a 67-year-old man was found with burns to his legs and upper body on Friday evening.
The man claims he was set on fire while sleeping, but authorities have yet to find evidence supporting his account.
Bronx Post correspondent gathered that first responders were dispatched to the scene around 7:50 p.m. after MTA police received a report of a man on fire inside a commuter passageway. The victim was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition. Speaking to police, he alleged, “I was sleeping and woke up on fire,” asserting that someone deliberately set him ablaze.
However, the investigation has revealed no signs of criminality thus far. The area where the man was discovered lacks surveillance cameras, and nearby footage did not show anyone leaving the scene. Authorities have turned their attention to a New Jersey Transit tunnel near tracks 1-12 as they attempt to unravel the mystery.
The location has drawn criticism from commuters, who describe it as poorly lit and prone to disorderly activity. One passenger remarked, “The area has long been a hub for delinquency. Homeless people are typically sleeping in the hallways.”
As of early Saturday, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Investigators are exploring all possibilities, including the potential for an accidental fire. The NYPD and MTA police urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in resolving this unsettling case.
