An MTA employee was fatally struck by a train as he worked on Midtown subway tracks early Wednesday, authorities said.
Hilarion Joseph, 57, was working as a flagger for a trash cleanup crew on the roadbed just south of the 34th Street-Herald Square station hub around 12:20 a.m. when he was hit by an uptown D train, according to cops and the MTA.
Joseph — who had worked for the MTA for just 11 months — was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
The MTA observed a moment of silence for Joseph at its board meeting later Wednesday.
“While the incident is still under investigation, we obviously take employee safety seriously and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” said Rich Davey, the MTA’s chief of subways and city buses. “These are dangerous jobs that we ask our people to do day-in and day-out.”
Davey said that all of the MTA’s track crews would receive a “safety refresh” Wednesday.
In a statement, TWU Local 100 president Richard Davis extended his support to Joseph’s family, “and any affected members during this tragic event.”
“This morning, I reported to the scene of the incident that resulted in the loss of one of our members from the track department,” Davis said.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unfortunate news that our fellow member was involved in a tragic incident with a train. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time. An ongoing investigation is underway.”