Brightline train and fire truck collide in Delray Beach 12/28/24

[pennyk]

Firetruck and Brightline train collide in Delray Beach 12/28/24

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-...stigating-train-incident-involving-fire-truck

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Three firefighters and 12 Brightline passengers have been injured following an incident involving a Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck and a Brightline train Saturday morning.

three firefighters have been hospitalized with injuries. Two of the firefighters were transported as trauma alerts to Delray Beach Medical Center and all are in stable condition.

12 passengers from the Brightline were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

 

[jis]

The Fire Truck driver in his infinite wisdom drove the truck around closed crossing gates into the path of the Brightline train. Go figure!

 

[west point]

From other reports the fire truck was stopped at the crossing by one of FEC's long freight trains. When the end of the train cleared the crossing the fire truck ran around the gates that were still down into the path of the Brightline train that was on the other track. Nothing has been said if Brightline was visible by the fire truck or if freight was on near track and Brightline on far track.

 

[Anderson]

dryly
Remember, at a crossing, one train may hide another...

 

[Touchdowntom9]

The Fire Truck driver in his infinite wisdom drove the truck around closed crossing gates into the path of the Brightline train. Go figure!

Based on the fire department being incredibly vague in their statement and not condemning Brightline immediately, my money was 100% on the fault being the firetruck driver

 

[Anderson]

Based on the fire department being incredibly vague in their statement and not condemning Brightline immediately, my money was 100% on the fault being the firetruck driver

I mean, when your driver went around closed crossing gates, that's basically the ballgame.

 

[George Harris]

And the press does its usual doom and gloom armwaving whenever there is any sort of railroad collision. Good example is an AP article supposed to be up about an hour ago: After a fairly factual but brief discussion of the accident itself, it has to go on with mentioning the East Palestine derailment, the Pecos Texas collision and that there were three deaths in Melbourne by Brightline trains, it concludes with:

More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.

Please note this is over a period of 6 years, and the last sentence: Brightline has not been found to be at fault in any of these previous deaths.

 

[frequentflyer]

With a cab video in hand, a city government is about to write big checks to Brightline and some pax too. Lawyers are going to have a field day with that cab video.

 

[trimetbusfan]

With a cab video in hand, a city government is about to write big checks to Brightline and some pax too. Lawyers are going to have a field day with that cab video.

The cab video has been posted by brightline.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

From other reports the fire truck was stopped at the crossing by one of FEC's long freight trains. When the end of the train cleared the crossing the fire truck ran around the gates that were still down into the path of the Brightline train that was on the other track. Nothing has been said if Brightline was visible by the fire truck or if freight was on near track and Brightline on far track.

See the cab video posted below. The Brightline train was on the track closest to the fire truck, so the driver appears to have not bothered looking both ways once the freight cleared the crossing.

 

[Cal]

So frustrating that the driver failed multiple different layers of danger.

-Trying to go around gates in the first place
-Assuming there was no other train
-Not looking both ways before crossing

And being a first responder along Brightline surely means that they know of Brightline's track record. It's sad that they still took the risk.

 

[jis]

See the cab video posted below. The Brightline train was on the track closest to the fire truck, so the driver appears to have not bothered looking both ways once the freight cleared the crossing.

Why would he even be looking when the gates are down? The level of regard or lack thereof of safety rules is utterly breathtaking!

 

[George Harris]

Looking at the video, the Brightline train was not hidden by the freight train. It was on the track on the side toward the fire truck's approach. Possibly the driver of the fire truck thought he could beat the train. I have no idea. There are five pictures with the following Yahoo news item.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/train-collides-fire-truck-florida-192449393.html

 

[west point]

Was the driver in charge or did the lieutenant in the right seat say "go Gus"?

Looking at the pcture it almost appears that someone sitting in the back seat on the right side is trying to bail out . Anyone?

 

[MARC Rider]

Firetruck and Brightline train collide in Delray Beach 12/28/24

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-...stigating-train-incident-involving-fire-truck

Well, well, well, where have we seen this before?

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/fire-truck-drives-around-crossing-gates-in-tamaqua-pa.83628/

Fortunately, in that case, there was no collision, which is a good thing as crashing into a steam locomotive in operation is not a good idea.

 

[bearcruzer]

dryly
Remember, at a crossing, one train may hide another...

Expect a train on any track at any time in either direction. It doesn't get much simpler than that.

 

[rookzie]

Well at least so far, they fared better than the firemen in the 1989, fire truck collision with Amtrak’s Crescent in Catlett, Virginia, resulting in injuries and deaths of two firefighters, and serious injuries of three others in that truck (one of which is believed to have succumbed to injuries). The two locomotives and 11 of 16 cars derailed, indeed a very expensive outcome, let alone with litigation.

It had been reported that the fire crew had taken a wrong turn from incomplete or sketchy directions, and had returned to the previously approached crossing, and had focused more on locating the target site with time already lost, while failing to be vigilant for the approaching train.

 

[tgstubbs1]

Well, well, well, where have we seen this before?

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/fire-truck-drives-around-crossing-gates-in-tamaqua-pa.83628/

Fortunately, in that case, there was no collision, which is a good thing as crashing into a steam locomotive in operation is not a good idea.

It amazes me that people who make a living responding to emergencies have this behaviour.

 

[Cal]

It amazes me that people who make a living responding to emergencies have this behaviour.

Genuinely, how can we trust them to make a good judgement call in a fire if they won't even look for a train coming when there is a system telling you a train is nearby?

 

[acelafan]

This is a sad and frustrating story on many levels. It seems the damaged loco will be out of service for awhile. Does Brightline have spare equipment to keep the same service levels?

It's crazy that there are so many RR crossing accidents.

 

[joelkfla]

This is a sad and frustrating story on many levels. It seems the damaged loco will be out of service for awhile. Does Brightline have spare equipment to keep the same service levels?

It's crazy that there are so many RR crossing accidents.

Yes, there is at least one spare locomotive at the Orlando shop. It was mentioned in Roaming Railfan's video showing arrival and commissioning of a new trainset. There's also at least one spare trainset, based on observing trains passing the Cocoa railcam.

 

[west point]

What speed was the Brightline operating at and what was its collision speed? The damage to the loco seemed to suggest not more than 30 MPH?? That seems too slow IMO. Bright lines was really lucky. Collisions at other incidents have locos and many cars derailed. How was the engineer spared? No major injuries as far as we know?

Not knowing the law in FL can there be sovereign immunity invoked in this incident immunization of the fire department?

 

[railiner]

It's crazy that there are so many RR crossing accidents.

It’s just a confirmation that frequent high speed train operations should be built in a fully grade separated right of way.
Unfortunately for Brightline, that was not possible due to the cost that would have required. This will happen again and again, unless some foolproof means of complete protection can be found and applied at every grade crossing…

 

[Qapla]

Removing grade level crossings is a good idea. Since it is the people on the roads and sidewalks that cause the problems and bypass the safety measures in place while the trains are doing nothing wrong - instead of telling the railroad to raise all their tracks, make the roads and sidewalks go over the tracks. That would eliminate the grade crossing and put the expense on the drivers and pedestrians who don't follow the laws instead of making the law-abiding railroads pay for other's thoughtlessness and negligence.

Like they did here in Jacksonville where University Ave crossed Phillips Highway. It took an incident with an ambulance to bring about this change but, they changed the road, not the tracks to never have to have an ambulance have to wait at the RR crossing again.

 

[jis]

It’s just a confirmation that frequent high speed train operations should be built in a fully grade separated right of way.
Unfortunately for Brightline, that was not possible due to the cost that would have required. This will happen again and again, unless some foolproof means of complete protection can be found and applied at every grade crossing…

It is a 79mph railroad where the event took place. Not high speed by any obtuse definition of the term.