He ran into a stationary train. Noone else was hurt. The crash took place around 2 a.m. when there was light traffic. One family was stuck in a train car after the crash and had to be released, but was otherwise unhurt. The monorail system is shut down for the moment. Mike Griffin, Disney’s vice president for public affairs, honored the driver: “Today we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member. Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker.” source
We do have an independent train system… [but] let’s not try and disperse the blame. Let’s put it on the decision makers and the leaders.
Adrian Fenty • Speaking this morning on “Good Morning America,” taking blame for Monday’s D.C. Metro crash, which killed nine people. The cause of the crash appears to be faulty, outdated equipment which wasn’t replaced when recommended, as the train driver (who was also killed) did press the emergency brake and there were were automatic mechanisms in place that should have prevented the crash. The fact that Fenty is so willing to put his neck out is bold. • source
The trains involved were getting old and outdated. In response to a 2004 crash that injured 20, the National Transportation Safety Board says that it told the city of Washington in 2006 that it needed to upgrade some of its trains or phase them out. It didn’t happen. “They have not been able to do that and our recommendation was not addressed,” NTSB spokeswoman Debbie Hersman said. For Metro riders: this is not good. source