Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 17, 2009

Young man fatally struck by train

Incident disrupted trains through Columbia Heights Metrorail station

A 15-year-old Washington, DC, resident was fatally struck by a Metrorail train this afternoon, Thursday, September 17.

The 1:55 p.m. incident disrupted service for a little more than two hours. Service returned to normal at 4:15 p.m. after the young man was fatally struck by a six-car Yellow Line train as it pulled into the Columbia Heights Metrorail station, which serves the Yellow and Green Lines during that time of day. The train was headed downtown.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the young man intentionally placed himself in the path of the train.

The station was closed temporarily from 1:55 to 2:40 p.m. while emergency crews responded to the scene. Trains single-tracked through the area (shared one track) from 2:40 to 4:15 p.m.

The incident investigation is on-going.

Fourth 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 6:51 pm, September 17, 2009.