Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 26, 2010
Red Line service impacted after fatal accident
Two Metro track workers fatally struck by track equipment
Delays along the Red Line are expected throughout the morning rush hour after 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 trains currently are operating between the Glenmont and Twinbrook Metrorail stations while an investigation into the accident continues. There is 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. However, customers should expect long waits for the shuttle bus service as a bus only can carry about 50 passengers while a six-car train can carry about 800 passengers.
Customers are encouraged to avoid the Shady Grove and Rockville Metrorail stations, if possible, and to use the nearby Twinbrook and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail stations to catch a train.
The Metro employees, both males, were struck by a high rail truck, a large truck that is equipped with special wheels that allow it to drive on the track when electricity that usually powers trains is taken down.
The employees were Automatic Train Control (ATC) Technicians who were installing new train control equipment in the track bed along an outbound section of track on the Red Line in the direction of Shady Grove when they were struck at about 1:45 a.m. near the Rockville Metrorail station.
One of the employees died at the scene and the other was taken to an area hospital where he later died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. 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 (NTSB) and the Tri-State Oversight Committee about the accident Tuesday morning. NTSB officials are on the scene along with Metro Transit Police.
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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 6:40 am, January 26, 2010.