Breaking: Nine killed in Washington-area Metro train collision

CNN ^ | 6/22/2009 | n/a

[Pyro7480]

CNN producer Vito Maggiolo saying "one train on top of each other."

[LucyJo]

I can’t access anything right now to see what’s happening.

Are you saying that all the cars of one train were empty, or that one of the cars on one of the trains was empty and all the other cars on both trains had passengers?

Sorry to be do dense headed.

[SE Mom]

Not dense at all ;) what I heard was one CAR was empty- not one train. I also heard there were 6 cars involved.

[MediaMole]

Unfortunately, they are going to be shifting from rescue to recovery.

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the update. Called my son and he was going to try and call a few of his friends in DC to check on them. I haven’t heard back from him yet.

[SE Mom]

It sounds like it, doesn’t it?

It’s hard to imagine why they would be calling for a dozen or more EMT vehicles if they’ve taken the injured to the hospital- unless they’re for bodies.

[rockvillem]

I don’t know if this will end up being related to the incident, but there was a problem that caused a massive delay on the Red Line BEFORE the awful crash. A train was stuck before Tenleytown and it took almost an hour to get the following train (which I was on) to push it all the way to Tenleytown. Red Line was massively backed up between 4 and 5. Could everyone at Metro have been so distracted that they lost track of their equipment or were trying to rush things into service?

Prayers for those involved.

[kristinn]

Similar crash happened four years ago on the Red Line at Woodley Park:

Normalcy Returns to Woodley Park Metro
March 31, 2005 - 6:53am

WASHINGTON - Three days after a collision between two trains, things are back to normal at Metro's Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan station on the Red Line.

Since Wednesday's crash between and empty train and an occupied one, the transit system had been forced to use a single track for trains traveling in both directions until the damaged cars could be removed and the track inspected for any damage.

Metro also ran eight-car trains on its busiest line in an effort to move passengers more efficiently.

Trains began running on both tracks just before 10 a.m. Saturday.

On Wednesday, an empty train bound for the Shady Grove rail yard rolled backward and crashed into an occupied train that had just pulled into the station.

Twenty people were injured, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

SNIP

[Our man in washington]

I’m fine (I ride the other direction) but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn I know people in the accident. Prayers for their safety.

[SE Mom]

Wow- that’s intriguing. We did hear earlier that at one point today they were running single track there so between that and your report there may be a connection.

Crime scene tape up and homicide detectives as well as FBI terrorism task force- the reporter says that is not unusual for an incident like this.

The mayor will have press conf in about 15 mins

One death is reported to be female train operator/staff...

[LucyJo]

Thank you. : )

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Well, DC Metro finally killed some people. Not surprised.

[rabscuttle385]

CNN now reporting death toll is up to three.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/22/washington.subway.crash/index.html

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

No, Joe Biden rides Amtrak. This was the DC Red Line metro, the city subway so to speak.

[SE Mom]

PRess conference up now with mayor

[SE Mom]

4 confirmed fatalities.

[LucyJo]

Ok, thanks.

[MediaMole]

Four confirmed fatalities

[rockvillem]

They were single-tracking between Van Ness and Friendship Heights during my incident. There was some other reason they were single-tracking near Takoma earlier.

Somebody posted the Woodley Park incident from 5 years ago - that actually was different. An empty train rolled backwards (no kidding!) into another one because the operator forgot to set the brake. This one appears to have been an at-speed incident.

[SE Mom]

wow- 200 firefighters on scene.

70 patients - 50 green (walking wounded) 14 (?) yellow (moderate injuries)2 red tags (critical)- 4 black tags

[LucyJo]

2 with life threatening injuries.