74-year-old woman fatally pushed into oncoming BART train identified

SAN FRANCISCO - BART police arrested a man in connection with the death of a woman who he allegedly pushed into the path of an approaching train at the Powell Street station in San Francisco. 

Trevor Belmont, a 49-year-old homeless man who is also known as Hoak Taing, is accused of pushing the 74-year-old woman in front of a Millbrae-bound train shortly after 11 p.m. Monday, according to BART.

"This was a tragedy, it happened last night, it's something that's extremely rare.," said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin.

The San Francisco Medical Examiner identified the woman as Corazon Dandan of San Mateo County.

Investigators are probing whether the victim and suspect knew each other or if this was a random act.

Right now, any connection between the victim and the suspect is undetermined," said Chief Franklin. "But, certainly part of the investigation."

Dandan hit her head on the train and fell on the platform. She was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and later died as a result of her injuries. BART officials say the case is the first homicide on the train system this year.

BART riders said while they understood that this was a rare occurrence, some said they worried that the same thing could happen to them.

"When BART's coming I don't step there right away," said BART rider My Huynh. "I just wait until it's completely stopped and opened the door then I go there."

Belmont was arrested at the station platform shortly after the alleged attack. He has been booked into jail on suspicion of murder and elder abuse, according to jail booking logs.