A homeless man with an extensive criminal history has been arrested for allegedly setting a subway-train fire nine months ago that killed Train Operator Garrett Goble, who before he succumbed quickly guided passengers from his train.
Nathaniel Avinger, who had been a person of interest in the police investigation because he had been arrested earlier in March for setting a fire in a Columbia University dorm. He is accused of touching off a fire March 27 on a No. 2 train as it neared the 110th St./Central Park North station.
After Mr. Avinger allegedly set fire to a shopping cart on the train, Mr. Goble, who was 36, quickly led passengers from the train as it became engulfed in flames. Mr. Goble was reportedly overcome by the heavy smoke and collapsed after suffering a heart attack.
Interim NYC Transit President Hopeful Stimulus Negotiations Will Deliver Relief to City s System By Eric Vitale New York City PUBLISHED 5:18 PM ET Dec. 18, 2020 PUBLISHED 5:18 PM EST Dec. 18, 2020
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Photo credit: Frank Franklin II/AP
Speaking to NY1 s Roma Torre on Friday, New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg said she’s hopeful that renewed stimulus negotiations on Capitol Hill will deliver relief to the city’s transit system. However, she said the $4 billion reportedly going to the MTA will only buy it some time.
“It obviously doesn t solve the bigger picture, but it gets us through the end of the year and beyond, Feinberg said. I think the fact that President-elect Biden is coming in with his administration is only good news for transit agencies like ours. They absolutely understand the issue
By The Associated Press, AP
NEW YORK (AP) A man suspected of setting a train fire that killed a New York City subway driver in March has been arrested and charged with murder, police said Friday.
Detectives linked Nathaniel Avinger, 50, to the fatal blaze after he was arrested Wednesday for allegedly groping a transit worker in Brooklyn.
Avinger remained in police custody Friday while awaiting arraignment in Manhattan on the murder charge. Online court records didn’t list an attorney representing Avinger in that matter. A message seeking comment was left with his lawyer in another pending case.
Avinger is accused of setting fire to a shopping cart aboard a No. 2 train as it pulled into the 110th Street station in Harlem, near Central Park around 3 a.m. on March 27.
Police: Arrest made in fire that killed NYC subway driver
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Dec 18, 2020 at 3:42 pm EDT
NEW YORK A man suspected of setting a train fire that killed a New York City subway driver in March has been arrested and charged with murder, police said Friday.
Detectives linked Nathaniel Avinger, 50, to the fatal blaze after he was arrested Wednesday for allegedly groping a transit worker in Brooklyn.
Avinger remained in police custody Friday while awaiting arraignment in Manhattan on the murder charge. Online court records didn’t list an attorney representing Avinger in that matter. A message seeking comment was left with his lawyer in another pending case.
Arrest Made In Fatal Subway Arson That Killed Hero Motorman
arrow The burnt out 2 train Provided to Gothamist
The NYPD arrested a 50-year old Bronx man suspected of lighting a subway car on fire, killing the motorman, and injuring 16 riders.
Nathaniel Avinger was arrested at the Utica station in Brooklyn on Wednesday night for grabbing a woman. He was later charged with murder in the fatal subway fire.
Police released a grainy photo of the suspect in April, but had not made any arrests or released further information about the investigation until this week.
At the end of March, just after 3 a.m., a northbound 2 train erupted in flames as it neared the 110th Street station in Harlem. The operator, 36-year-old Garrett Goble, was reportedly helping passengers get off the train.