WASHINGTON — Metro officials say it’s a miracle that a woman lived after she was trapped underneath a train during the Thursday evening rush-hour.
WMATA officials said at 5:16 p.m., a woman standing on the platform at Court House Metro had a medical emergency and fell onto the tracks only moments before the arrival of a Silver Line train. Metro spokesman Dan Stessel told WUSA9 that the train was decelerating, but still going about 20 to 25 miles per hour.
"It was an emotional incident here in our office," Stessel said, adding that he immediately replayed surveillance video that is not being released for privacy concerns.
"Frankly, it’s a miracle that she survived,” he said.
Arlington County firefighters responded to the scene and rescued the woman, who was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Firefighters said she sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries. Her name has not been released.
Transit agency data found that 80 people were hit by trains over a three-year period, but Metro officials underscored that Thursday’s incident was “exceedingly rare."
Stessel said that most riders get hit by trains as the result of an accident -- either stumbling while drunk or being distracted by their phones -- but said that about 30 percent of all incidents are suicides or attempted suicides.
"Anytime somebody is off the platform is a serious safety concern," Stessel said.
Metro said it is not considering changes to station platforms, which the transit agency considers “best in class” for passenger safety.
According to Stessel, Metro has been trying to educate riders to remain alert while on station platforms and recently upgraded six stations in Virginia with new tiles in hopes of keeping riders from slipping.
WATCH: Metro's safety reminder for those on the platform