Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 26, 2010

Metro track workers struck by track equipment in fatal accident

Red Line service to be impacted during morning rush hour

Two Metro track workers were struck and killed by a piece of track equipment early Tuesday morning, January 26, near the Rockville Metrorail station.

Red Line service will be impacted during the morning rush hour while an investigation into the accident continues. Red Line trains will operate between the Glenmont and Twinbrook Metrorail stations. There will be no Red Line train service between the Shady Grove and Rockville Metrorail stations. Metro will provide free shuttle bus service to help move customers between the Shady Grove, Rockville and Twinbrook Metrorail stations.

The Metro employees, both males, were struck by a prime mover, a diesel-powered piece of equipment that is used to move heavy equipment, according to the preliminary report from Metro Transit Police. The employees were working along an outbound section of track on the Red Line in the direction of Shady Grove when they were struck by the prime mover at about 1:45 a.m.

The identity of the employees will be released after next of kin have been notified.

Metro’s Safety Office notified the National Transportation Safety Board and the Tri-State Oversight Committee of the incident Tuesday morning.

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

News release issued at 4:51 am, January 26, 2010.