Three firefighters and around twelve train passengers sustained injuries on Saturday in Florida when a fire truck, with active flashing lights, maneuvered around railway crossing barriers and collided with a high-speed passenger train. This occurred after the truck had already halted for another train to pass, as described in video footage of the event and information from an informed source familiar with the situation.
The incident transpired at approximately 10:45 a.m. in the busy downtown area of Delray Beach. Following the crash, the Brightline train was left halted on the tracks, significantly damaged at its front, located about a block from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck. Reports indicated that the fire truck’s ladder was found detached, lying several yards away in the grass.
According to a post on social media by Delray Beach Fire Rescue, the three firefighters from Delray Beach are currently in stable condition at a local hospital. In addition, twelve individuals from the train were also transported to the hospital, suffering from minor injuries, as reported by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.
An individual familiar with the crash details, who requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, revealed that the fire truck had initially come to a stop at the crossing to allow a freight train to pass. Following this, it proceeded to drive around the lowered crossing arms. Video footage captured the fire truck maneuvering past vehicles halted at the crossing, while its lights were in operation to navigate across the double tracks.
Emmanuel Amaral, who was a few blocks away enjoying breakfast, hastily made his way to the scene on his golf cart after hearing the loud crash and the screeching brakes of the train. Upon arrival, he witnessed firefighters exiting through the front window of their damaged truck and assisting injured teammates away from the tracks. One of their helmets ended up several hundred feet from the site of the impact.
“The front of that train is completely destroyed; there were even parts of the fire truck embedded in it,” Amaral recounted. He described how the collision split both the train and fire truck apart, causing debris to scatter across the area.
A safety officer from Brightline emphasized the importance of adhering to railroad safety protocols, stating that it is crucial for drivers to never bypass closed gates. Furthermore, the Federal Railroad Administration will be conducting an investigation into the crash. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicated that they are gathering relevant information but have yet to determine if a formal investigation will take place.
The NTSB is already examining two prior incidents involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that resulted in three fatalities earlier this year at the same Melbourne crossing along the route connecting Miami and Orlando. Since the beginning of Brightline’s operations in July 2017, over 100 fatalities involving trains have occurred, marking it with the highest death rate in the nation. Most of these fatalities, however, have involved suicides, pedestrians attempting to cross the tracks before an approaching train, or motorists disregarding crossing gates. Brightline has not been held responsible for these prior incidents.
Concerns regarding railroad safety have intensified since a Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier in February 2023, resulting in a release of hazardous chemicals and subsequent fires. Regulatory bodies have urged improvements to safety measures, and Congress members have proposed various reform initiatives; however, significant changes within the railroad industry remain limited, leading to stagnation in proposed legislation.
Earlier in the month, two operators of a Union Pacific train tragically lost their lives after their train collided with a semi-truck that had obstructed a crossing in Pecos, Texas, resulting in three other injuries and damage to a local Chamber of Commerce building.
