Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 17, 2009

Person fatally struck by train at Columbia Heights Metrorail station

Trains single-tracking through the area, expect delays

A person was fatally struck by a six-car Yellow Line train as it pulled into the Columbia Heights Metrorail station today at 1:55 p.m. The train was headed downtown.

The preliminary indication leads investigators to believe that the individual intentionally placed himself/herself (gender not yet confirmed) in the path of the train.

Columbia Heights Metrorail station is open. It was closed from 1:55 to 2:40 p.m. while emergency crews responded to the scene. Currently Green Line trains are single tracking (sharing one track) between the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metrorail station to the Shaw-Howard Metrorail station. All Yellow Line trains are now operating only between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail stations, which is the usual Yellow Line route during rush hours. There is no Yellow Line service between Mt. Vernon Square and Fort Totten Metrorail stations.

Customers should expect delays of at least 20 minutes in the area where trains are single-tracking.


Second update

Media contact for this news release: Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.

News release issued at 3:38 pm, September 17, 2009.