DC Metro Trains Collide

A terrible event has occurred on the DC Metro subway line. It seems two trains have collided and the latest reports say two people have died, and several people have been injured. It makes you wonder whether someone wasn't paying attention, as in the past where conductors have been accused of texting while driving or talking on the cellphone while driving the trains.

That's always a concern of mine. In this age of technological advance, where our cellphones are more than just a method of calling and receiving calls, our phones can do everything but cook breakfast. Cellphones can take pictures, video, get on the internet and of course send SMS (text ) messages. An investigation into the cause of the crash likely won't be completely soon, so its difficult to guess what the cause of the crash was. However, the pictures from the crash make me wonder how could something like this happen.

St Louis, Missouri has a MetroLink system, similar to the one in DC. The MetroLink, operating six trips per hour, has the capacity to carry 1,800 passengers per hour in a single direction. (http://www.metrostlouis.org/ResearchRidership/default.asp) My experience on the MetroLink has been very pleasant, I prefer to ride the train than to drive my own car. Its convenient and comfortable and you don't have to be bothered by traffic. Metro carries approximately 15% of Cardinal Baseball passengers and carried 33% of the 66,000 runners at the 2007 Race for the Cure.

As I write this, the police in DC are trying to combat traffic control, gawkers, and get the injured to area hospitals. The video from CNN shows one train atop the other, and it is unknown whether there was a head on collision or the accident occured from the rear. But, more importantly, this crash occurred during rush hour, so the trains were believed to have been full.

The DC rail system is relatively new and has a good reputation seldom having any crashes. The crash occurred near the DC - Maryland state lines. A hospital triage area has been set up on site where the crash occured. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a statement saying there is no evidence this was an act of terrorism. Rescuers are still working to free those still trapped in the trains.

A passenger on the train Jodie Wickett, says "it happened so fast...we felt a bump, then we went flying."