The son of a famed New York City restaurant owner has died in a freak accident at Madison Square Garden after he reportedly plunged down three floors while riding an escalator railing.
Ernest Vogliano, 61, fell to his death inside the arena following a Rangers game at around 10.40pm on Saturday.
Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call and the father-of-two was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Sources told The New York Post he had been 'riding' the escalator railing after the game.
Ernest Vogliano, 61, (pictured with his wife and children) was riding an escalator railing inside the arena following a Rangers game when he plunged to his death at around 10.40pm on Saturday, sources said
Emergency personnel responded to a 911 call and the father-of-two was rushed to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead
MSG's network of escalators is expansive and sees thousands of fans flooding out of the arena at the same time. Above, on Friday
It's unclear which of the railings Vogliano was riding on when he fell
It's unclear whether the family intends to launch any kind of action against the sporting venue.
It is common for the escalators to be turned off after shows, forcing fans to walk down the metal stairs.
Vogliano, the son of the late Ernest Vogliano Sr who owned the famed NYC restaurant Il Vagabondo whose patrons included Tom Hanks and Cindy Crawford, died from blunt force trauma, an autopsy showed. His death has been ruled accidental.
It is not clear how Vogliano fell from the escalator.
His widow, Lesa, has hired an attorney to understand what happened as she claims she has been not been told any details.
It is not clear how Vogliano fell from the escalator, and his widow, Lesa, has hired an attorney to understand what happened as she claims she has been not been told any details. Pictured: Madison Square Garden in New York
The escalators at Madison Square Garden (shown after another recent Rangers game)
The escalators are regularly switched off at the end of games, forcing hordes of fans to walk down the stationary metal steps
'We have no idea what happened, but they do,' family attorney Fred Eisenberg told the Post, referring to staff at Madison Square Garden. 'We have to review the evidence.
'We know that he was there and we know that he died.
'We'd like to find out how.'
Eisenberg on Wednesday demanded Madison Square Garden officials preserve all evidence relevant to Vogliano's death, including surveillance video footage, until it can be reviewed.
A representative for MSG said on Wednesday that Vogliano's death is a 'tragic accident'.
Vogliano's late father, Ernest Sr., a famed NYC restaurant owner
'A fan at this Saturday's Rangers game was injured in a tragic accident while he was exiting the venue and was immediately transported to a local hospital where he passed away.
'Our deepest and heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones.'
Vogliano's late father, Ernest Sr., owned the famous Upper East Side Italian restaurant Il Vagabondo. The popular eatery saw the likes of Tom Hanks and Cindy Crawford walk through its doors before it shut in 2019.
Vogliano is survived by his mother; siblings Robert, Jennifer, and Marie; children Blaze and Summer and his wife, Lesa.
Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan has not commented on the tragedy. The venue is well surveilled, and famously uses facial recognition technology.
Dolan has been accused in the past of blacklisting anyone he doesn't like from Madison Square Garden and Radio City.
Among those to have spoken out against him is movie director Spike Lee, who said he was being 'harassed' at one stage and stopped from attending Knicks games.
Vogliano's late father, Ernest Sr., owned the famous Upper East Side Italian restaurant Il Vagabondo (pictured). The popular eatery saw the likes of Tom Hanks and Cindy Crawford walk through its doors before it shut in 2019
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