High school student struck in head by express train on 4 and 5 line while entering Union Square

Adrian Rodriguez, 18 from the Bronx, was struck and injured by a subway train today while he was on the platform at Union Square

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An award-winning teen chef was fighting for his life last night after he collapsed on a Union Square subway platform and a downtown train slammed into his head, officials said.

Adrian Rodriguez, a favorite of students and teachers at Marta-Valle High School, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital with serious head injuries after the 7:50 a.m. accident.

"I love that boy," said Cliftonia Johnson, 47, a member of the staff at the lower East Side school. "He's absolutely one of my favorites. Wonderful, wonderful person."

A witness told police the teen appeared pale as he walked along the platform — and then either fainted or fell and was clipped by the southbound No. 5 train.

The gruesome accident spattered blood on the platform, while disrupting morning rush hour service for about 90 minutes. Rodriguez was knocked backward on the platform and did not fall to the tracks.

Authorities said he was in serious condition at Bellevue.

Word of the tragedy spread quickly through the school, where the 18-year-old Bronx resident was known as a top chef, top student and all-around nice guy.

Investigators look over the platform where a passenger was struck by a train while on the downtown bound 4,5, and 6 train platform at Union Square Station.

"They call him Obama, 'cause he's always wearing suits," said fellow senior Jeanae Jones, 17, of Fort Greene. "If he's not in his normal suit, he's in his chef suit and hat, ready to cook."

Student Laura Cuautle, 17, said classmates became worried when Rodriguez didn't appear for their culinary class. Their fears grew when a distressed teacher suddenly bolted from the classroom.

"He's always at cooking class, and always early, so we were worried," Cuautle said.

"He was very friendly and respectful. He liked to talk a lot. He was always helping the principal; he was a really good student."

Rodriguez won the Careers through Culinary Arts Program junior competition last year, and was prepping for a shot at a scholarship to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America.

"He was cool," said junior Raheem Devenish, 16, of Crown Heights. "He knows what he wants, and he was going to go out and get it."

Kwame Onwuachi was a mentor to the young chef and hired Rodriguez as an intern with his new business, Coterie Catering.

"It’s so sad," said Onwuachi, 21, of Harlem. "He definitely had a bright future, and I hope he still does. He's one of those that does good all the time. He's a great student."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/04/01/2011-04-01_commuter_struck_in_head_by_express_train_on_4_and_5_line_while_entering_union_st.html#ixzz1IS2TYV4S