My chavrusa’s brother was Steinmetz’s roommate, and was with him and Kohn on the trip. He exited the steps seconds before the pileup, just ahead of them. There was no barrier blocking him at the bottom. I will find out more when I can (he’s understandably going through a very hard time).
The last picture on his phone is him, Steinmetz, Kohn, and 2 others posing by the Kever, which he had sent to his family chat. When his parents saw where the incident occurred they were obviously frightened, realizing their son was right there. His father, unable to reach his son and frantically grasping at straws, called Steinmetz’s father off the hook to ask if he’d heard from his son.
He immediately went searching for his friends who he believed exited with him but couldn’t locate (service was down). For hours afterwards he was holding their tefillin wondering where they were... he didn’t dream they were among the casualties.
There are many sights now embedded he wishes he could unsee.