BART police have arrested a man suspected of pushing a 74-year-old woman into the path of an oncoming train at San Francisco’s Powell Street Station, resulting in her death. The incident occurred late Monday night, around 11:05 p.m., when the victim, identified as Corazon Dandan, was allegedly pushed by 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, a transient individual.
According to BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin, the train was approaching the platform when Dandan was pushed, causing her to hit her head on the train and fall onto the platform. She was immediately transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Dandan, a resident of San Mateo County, had been working as a telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis hotel in Union Square for 40 years and was on her way home from work when the tragic incident occurred.
Belmont was apprehended on the platform shortly after the incident and is currently being held in San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide. Chief Franklin noted that while Belmont had previous interactions with law enforcement, none were for serious crimes like this one. This incident marks the first homicide of the year within the BART system.
The investigation is ongoing, with BART PD actively interviewing witnesses, processing evidence, and reviewing surveillance footage to piece together the events leading up to the attack. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the crime.
Dandan’s family is devastated by her sudden and violent death. Her nephew, Dr. Alvin Dandan, shared that she was a brave and independent woman who had been commuting the same route for decades. He also revealed that the family had recently tried to convince her to start driving to work instead of using public transit, a suggestion that now haunts them. Dandan was in the process of building a vacation home in the Philippines, a dream that will now remain unfulfilled.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case, and Belmont is expected to be arraigned on July 5. The criminal complaint against him includes charges of murder and inflicting great bodily injury on a vulnerable victim, with allegations that he intentionally killed Dandan while lying in wait.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins expressed her condolences to Dandan’s family and emphasized that unprovoked attacks, especially on vulnerable individuals, are unacceptable. She assured the public that her office would do everything in its power to ensure justice is served.
The incident has sparked concerns among BART riders about safety on the transit system. Some frequent riders have called for increased security measures, citing previous experiences of verbal harassment and other safety issues. An anonymous BART employee described a drastic shift in the atmosphere at Powell Street Station at night, with increased incidents of violence and crime.
Chief Franklin reassured the public that BART remains a safe mode of transportation and that this incident is not representative of a typical day on the system. He urged riders to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings.
Multiple witnesses stayed at the scene to assist investigators, and BART police are continuing to work diligently to uncover the motive behind the attack. The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has not yet filed charges, but the case remains under active investigation.
This tragic event has not only shaken the BART community but also highlighted the broader issue of safety on public transportation systems. It serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers that commuters face and the importance of maintaining vigilance and security in public spaces.
Source: KGO-TV, San Francisco Chronicle, NBC
