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."

[alarm rider]

I seem to recall that a few years back, a train operator was killed because he could not stop a train manually. It's a bit unclear in my mind, but I remember it was during the winter, perhaps a snow event.

Anyway, I also seem to remember that Metro gave the operators the option to control the train. I have to check that, I could be wrong.

I know for sure there is a “dead man's switch” which stops the train if the operator becomes unable to control the train.

Anyway, my gut sense tells me that this was a signal failure. I believe the signals are computer operated. I think, and I repeat, I think that the operators have the last call on stopping the train.

This accident happened on a slight uphill grade and slight curve. It may be possible that the train operator got a “go ahead” and stayed at speed until it was too late to brake.

Once again, this is conjecture on my part along with a few years experience riding the trains.

Regards,
AR

[Brytani]

Fox Channel 5 DC has been reporting the struck train was empty on the track and was hit full speed by the passenger filled train.

If those reports are accurae this sounds like a horrible tragedy made by a combination of human and technological error. Not that the casue will make a bit of differene to those who are hurt and the families of those who have lost a loved-one.

[joe.fralick]

What a mess. I ride the Metro every day. I always have the impression that the employees are barely up to handling their jobs on a good day.

[alarm rider]

I haven't heard that the train that was struck was empty.

I know that the train that was struck, and the train that rammed the train in front were on the same track, traveling in the same direction.

I cannot imagine that the train struck was empty. Reports here have said that the train struck was awaiting entrance into the Ft. Totten Metro Station.

It was rush hour, and no train should have been parked on a working track that was empty or unmonitored.

Odd if true however.

[Brytani]

When I first heard the report it was an empty train sitting on the track I could not believe that could/would happen. It may very well be a report that has been changed, as they have changed the original report that the Metro was using a single rail at the time of the crash.

[rockvillem]

See my earlier colloquy with kristann about the 1996 incident at Shady Grove - the Deputy GM insisted that they be on automatic operation and it ended up killing a train operator whose train skidded through the automatic “stop” and struck another train.

Trains were massively backed up today on the Red Line because a Shady Grove bound train got stuck before Tenleytown around 4 pm. I’d wager money on that triggering a chain of events that led to today’s accident. We’ll see.

[scrabblehack]

Red-tagged...does that mean hopeless?

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don’t think there’s anything shocking about an empty train on the tracks. Sometimes they have issues in inconvenient places, even, and have to get back to the yard empty.

[txradioguy]

Green = “Walking wounded”/minor injuries

Yellow = Serioous

Red = critical/life threatening

Black = Speaks for itself.

[NCjim]

Didn’t we read upthread witness reports from the train that was hit?

[rabscuttle385]

Anglican ping at 200.

(snip)

Dave Bottoms, 39, had just left his job as an Army Chaplain at Walter Reed. The Anglican priest was in the back of the front car that slammed into the stopped train. When he saw the train buckling, it looked just like it would in the movies, he said.

“It felt like it was going in slow motion,” he said. “I started praying.”

In the chaotic moments after the crash, he walked to a young woman who had been pinned in between seats. She was hysterical, he said, but he began calming her—and the other passengers in the car.

The group began saying the Lord’s Prayer in unison.

(snip)

[NCjim]

Yes, post #198, last paragraph

[kristinn]

Three trains involved, two directly and one incidental. From the AP:

Metro chief John Catoe said the first train was stopped on the tracks, waiting for another to clear the station ahead, when the trailing train, one of the oldest in the Metro fleet, plowed into it from behind.

Officials had no explanation for the accident.

SNIP

From the City Paper:

As for the stopped train, here’s one account of what happened. Dennis, who declined to give his last name, says his train had just barely started to move when the impact happened. Dennis stepped out of the train and could see “three or four people on the ground, all bloody.” Dennis was in the fifth car, one removed from the impact. After staggering out of the train, he spotted a woman on top of that sixth car, and blood was streaming down. “The interior of that car just got crushed,” said Dennis.

[montomike]

I apologize to everyone for my insensitive comment in reply #6.

I can make no excuses.

montomike

[sionnsar]

... The Anglican priest was in the back of the front car that slammed into the stopped train. When he saw the train buckling, it looked just like it would in the movies, he said.
"It felt like it was going in slow motion," he said. "I started praying."
In the chaotic moments after the crash, he walked to a young woman who had been pinned in between seats. She was hysterical, he said, but he began calming her--and the other passengers in the car.
The group began saying the Lord's Prayer in unison.

This brings to mind the LA trainwreck last September, when another Anglican priest (p.9) leaped into service.

Thanks to rabscuttle385 for the ping.

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail Huber or sionnsar if you want on or off this low-volume ping list.
This list is pinged by Huber and sionnsar.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
Humor: The Anglican Blue

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[the OlLine Rebel]

God bless him. And I’m actually heartened to hear people would still turn to the prayers at least at this point.

[kalee]

I met David Bottoms once at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville.

[Cailleach]

“I hope the DC Chapter members who ride that Metro check in safe.”

We are on vacation. :) All safe and sound here. Hubby usually carpools, but does sometimes Metro (not Red line though).

Prayers for those on the trains and their loved ones.

[Malacoda]

Which stations were the trains between when they hit?

[the OlLine Rebel]

Supposed to be closer to Ft. Totten from Takoma.