Update, June 23, 1:31 p.m. One of the trauma patients admitted to GW Hospital last night is being discharged, said Heather Oldham, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Both patients are now in stable condition, but Oldham said she had no information about when the second patient will be discharged from the hospital. The 24 patients suffering from minor injuries arrived both by bus and as walk-ins, Oldham said. They were treated last night, but not admitted to the hospital.
There have been nine fatalities reported thus far as a result of the collision.
Update 11:44 p.m. A statement from University President Steven Knapp was posted to the campus advisories Web site Monday night.
By now most of you are aware of today’s tragic accident on the Metro’s Red Line, which occurred during the evening rush hour. First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. I want to thank our GW hospital staff and volunteers for their hard work in treating the injured. We know that a number of our staff, students and faculty members use the Red Line to get to our campus and will be affected by today’s collision. All classes and Colonial Inauguration events tomorrow (Tuesday, June 23) will go forward as scheduled, but for those who are experiencing difficulties in getting to campus on time, we will grant liberal leave (in the case of staff) and other appropriate accommodations. Thank you.
Update 9:35 p.m. Nearly 30 injured passengers were brought to GW Hospital after the collision, said Nicole Pokryfka, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Twenty-four patients with minor injuries including bruises and lacerations were brought in from the scene by bus. They are still in the process of being evaluated, but were given green bracelets to indicate minor injury.
An additional two passengers were brought to the hospital by ambulance. Those patients suffered from more severe injuries, including loss of consciousness, and were listed as trauma patients. Pokryfka said they have both since regained consciousness and are in serious but stable condition.
Update 8:33 p.m. Two more passengers have been confirmed dead, bringing the total number of fatalities to six. Six additional passengers are in critical condition at area hospitals.
ABC 7 has reported that some individuals have been brought to GW Hospital for treatment but public affairs and media relations representatives were not immediately available for comment.
Robert Thomson of The Washington Post’s transportation blog had some interesting commentary on the collision:
For many of us who have covered Metro, this crash is mystifying. The stretch of track on the Red Line between Takoma and Fort Totten is one of the straightest and most wide open in the Metrorail system. You’re above ground all the way. The terrain is flat. The weather this afternoon was fine.
It’s one of the biggest distances between stations in the system. Trains can get going quite fast there, compared to other segments of track.
This was a rear end collision. Metro has many systems designed to stop a collision, whether the trains are being operated automatically, or are under the control of the train operator in the front cab.
Update 7:20 p.m. Four people died and 70 were injured in a collision between two Red Line trains around 5 p.m. Monday, emergency and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority officials confirmed.
The trains collided on the same track between the Red Line’s Takoma and Fort Totten stations in northeast D.C. Currently, the WMATA Web site is reporting delays on all lines. People are advised to avoid the Red Line for the rest of the day.
D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said he believed Monday’s collision is the deadliest accident in the history of the Metrorail system.
WMATA General Manager John Catoe said in a news conference that one train had been stopped when another train, running in the same direction, hit the stopped car “for reasons we do not know.” The operator of the second train was one of the four who died in the collision, Catoe said.
“We don’t know what happened but we will find out what happened and fix what happened,” Catoe said, adding that an investigation will be performed.
A GW Hospital spokeswoman said the emergency room had not received injured Metrorail riders as of 6 p.m.
The local Fox affiliate has footage of the collision’s aftermath. In 2004, a similar Red Line accident occured but left only 20 injured.
Gabrielle Bluestone contributed to this report.
the DC metro is not automated to my knowledge. I live in Alexandria Va, and have used theystem on numerous occassions. I believe they abandoned the automation. They couldn’t figure out how to make it work, after many dollars spent. The system is poorly run. We have the only rail cars built in spain and italy. The cars suck. The drivers fly. I pray every time I have to get on the DC Metro. They single track the cars on a regular basis. They spent numerous dollars to get a new voice to say doors are closing please stand back, but no money on safety. They wanted to remove the seats in the cars to haul more passengers, but no additional safety measures. The DC Metro is an accident waiting to happen.
I ride metro every day to work. Trains stopping on the tracks inbetween stations is a very common occurance. Trains malfuction quite often. We enter and station and are ordered off the train without any explanation. Trains stop at stations and lurch forward without warning. Metro’s PA system is horrible. Most, if not all, messages are garbled. Train cars are old, dirty and are in need of replacement.
Because of this accident, I will not be surprised to hear metro whine about money. Next thing you know, they will be raising fares, providing us with less service and less safety.
There are reports that the NTSB told metro to replace a certain series of rail cars but metro did not. They were told to install ‘black boxes’ but again metro did not.
Some firings should occur at metro.
I agree that industries should stop ignoring warnings but not with firings.
You’re not experienced in something if you continue to do it correctly over and over. Experience is messing up a few times. Use it as a learning experience. Best believe those who let this happen won’t let it happen again.