Investigation Underway in DC Metro Crash
By injuheis on June 25, 2009
In a statement released Monday, June 22, 2009, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) declared that:
“The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a go-team to investigate the collision of two Metro trains in Washington, DC….
…Railroad Investigator Ed Dobranetski is Investigator-in-Charge and is leading the team, which includes two specialists from the NTSB Office of Transportation Disaster Assistance.
NTSB Member Debbie Hersman will serve as the on- scene spokesman. Terry Williams is the press officer accompanying the team.”
It has been reported in an article that Metro trains are equipped with a fail-safe computerized signal system that is supposed to prevent train collisions. On-board computers control the rate at which the train travels and its braking system, while another system detects the location of other trains in the area in order to maintain a safe distance between the trains. In the event that the trains get too close, the trains are supposed to be automatically stopped so as to prevent collision.
Peter Goelz, former managing director at the NTSB, discussed the crash in an online forum. Questions dealt with the cause of the Washington D.C. train accident near Maryland and which preventative safety measures should have been set in place to prevent such a crash. Goelz declared that the investigation will give a lot of attention “to the automatic train control system and the operator’s actions.”
The possibility of operator distraction was also discussed (distraction involving the use of cell phones or other electronic devices, such as MP3 players). Operator inattention is another factor being called into question (seeing that the trains are operated via computer, the train operator supposedly does little more than open and close the doors of the train). Goelz reported that the NTSB “has broad investigative power and they can secure” information such as phone records to determine if drivers were on a phone at the time of an accident.
Goelz said that the trains involved in the crash were older models that needed to be replaced. The models involved did not include “event recorders” that would have provided insight into the cause of the accident. “Metro needs to commit to an absolute timetable to replace these older cars and the city needs to commit the funding necessary to get the job done,” said Goelz.
Goelz reported that the accident’s investigation may take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
The Steve Heisler Injury Legal Team will continue to monitor this developing situation. Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims and families of victims of this terrible crash.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.