OTTAWA (AFP) - A woman was killed in Montreal when her hair and scarf became entangled in a subway escalator, officials said on Thursday.

The 48-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was riding on the moving staircase during her morning commute on Wednesday when the garment got snagged, police said.

"She tried to pull the scarf free but her hair got entangled and she was apparently strangled to death," a police spokesman said, citing witnesses and surveillance video.

Authorities, who said the woman died at the scene, are investigating the incident.