UPDATE: 9 dead as two Metro trains collide in Washington, DC. Deadliest crash in the system’s history. Watch morning briefing.
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Live coverage from the scene (when available)
Raw video from Tuesday morning briefing
Raw video from NTSB Monday night briefing
9NEWS NOW reporter Bruce Leshan’s 11:00 PM report
January 13, 1982 Metro collision that killed three people
(If video links fail to work with your browser, click here, where you will also find more videos from the crash)
City sources again confirm for STATter911.com that nine people have died in the collision of two Metro trains on Monday. The sources originally confirmed that information shortly after 11:00 PM, but in a morning press conference Mayor Adrian Fenty reported the official toll was at seven. Seventy-six others were hurt, at least two of them critically, in the worst wreck in Metro’s history.
DC Fire & EMS Department sources indicate the higher death count was originally based on views from a camera used to access parts of the wreckage firefighters couldn’t reach. Parts of bodies were discovered. The sources now confirm (10:00 AM on Tuesday) five more bodies were removed from the wreckage this morning, in addition to the four previously removed. The sources indicate there are no further signs, at the moment, of bodies in the wreckage.
Mayor Fenty expects a final death count to be announced at 5:00 PM.
Sources tell STATter911.com that Metro train controllers frantically tried to radio at least one of the operators of two trains that collided on the Red Line this afternoon just prior to the collision.
The call came in around 5:00 PM for a derailment near the Fort Totten Metro Station in Northeast. DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis Rubin confirms the original information from the city’s 911 center did not indicate there had been a collision between two trains with injuries.
Firefighters quickly determined the serious nature of the incident. One six-car train, Train 112, had collided with and run over the top the rear car of another six-car train, Train 214. Metro officials confirm that both trains were heading toward Shady Grove, or in-bound toward the city, approaching the Fort Totten station.
In an early briefing DC Fire & EMS Department PIO Alan Etter reported as many as nine-people trapped in the wreckage. By 7:00 PM sources confirmed that four people had died, with more fatalities likely. City officials held their first briefing at 7:15 PM, lead by Mayor Adrian Fenty.
A short time later the other two fatalities were confirmed. One of those dead is the woman Metro worker who was operating Train 112.
Chief Rubin reports a total of 70 people were transported to area hospitals. According to Chief Rubin, fifty were green tags, 14 were yellow tags, 6 red tags and 6 black tags. Two firefighters received minor injuries while at the scene.
Three-alarms were sounded, with much mutual-aid from neighboring jurisdictions responding to the scene and covering the rest of the city. A mass casualty type EMS bus and other equipment was sent from Fairfax County. Much closer Montgomery County, sent numerous ambulances and firefighters to the incident.
At 9:45 PM recovery operations were still underway to free bodies from the mangled wreckage of the trains. Fire officials expected to find more bodies in the crushed read car of Train 214.
Shortly after 11:00 PM, sources familiar with the investigation confirmed three more bodies were discovered in the wreckage.
The Metro tracks run adjacent to the CSX tracks. The incident shut down CSX and MARC Train traffic. Amtrak’s Capital Limited also uses the CSX tracks.
Prior to this incident, the deadliest crash in Metro’s history was on January 13, 1982. Three people were killed and 25 injured when a car was crushed against a tunnel wall at a malfunctioning crossover switch. This happened shortly after Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14th Street Bridge during a snowstorm.
