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System, Driver Error Suspected in DC Train Crash

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 23, 2009 9:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Experts suspect yesterday’s deadly subway collision in Washington was the result of both a system failure and human error, the Washington Post reports. The city’s trains are run by onboard computers, which should, theoretically, prevent trains from colliding. The system has failed once before, in 2005, but the operators hit the emergency brakes in time. It appears yesterday’s operator did not.

With the trains above ground and the weather clear, the operator should have seen the other train. “That’s why you have an operator in the cab,” said one train safety expert. “She should have been able to take action. That’s what they’re there for.” The incident hasn’t been fully investigated however; it’s also possible the driver was somehow incapacitated, or that the braking system failed.

Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington, Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington, Tuesday, June 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency workers at the site of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, D.C. Monday, June 22, 2009.
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency workers at the site of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, D.C. Monday, June 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington, Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
Investigators and officials look over the collision scene of two Metro transit trains in Northeast Washington, Tuesday, June 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
With the demolished train car lowered, officials continue to work around the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, DC, Tuesday morning.
With the demolished train car lowered, officials continue to work around the scene of a rush-hour collision between two Metro transit trains in northeast Washington, DC, Tuesday morning.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
kokuaguy
Jun 24, 2009 6:25 AM CDT
I thought the same thing 2-bits, but resisted the temptation. One gold star and a couple of brownie point please.
2-bits
Jun 23, 2009 7:18 AM CDT
That's fine. That really was my first thought when I read this article though. I might be influenced by the fact that a MARTA employee was recently suspended for texting while driving. I know MARTA != DC, but still...
kokuaguy
Jun 23, 2009 7:08 AM CDT
Not funny.

Official death toll at 7
Bloomberg

A history of Metro accidents
Washington Post

US

 
subway • Washington DC • accident • Washington Metro • train crash • collisions • subway accident

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