US trains collide in peak hour drama

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 22nd June, 2009

A train smash in the US state of Washington, DC has killed nine passengers and crew and injured more than 70 others.

The collision, in northeast Washington, happened during the afternoon rush hour on the Metro system's red line near the Washington-Maryland border. The impact was so hard the lead car of the moving train was sliced open, vaulted into the air and landed on top of the rear car of the other train. A crane was brought in early Tuesday to help separate the wreckage. As the two trains collided, one was left on top of the other.

Crews had to cut apart carriages to extricate people, who were mostly lying in the bottom train.

Washington Fire and Emergency Medical Services officials described the scene as a mass casualty event but were unable to say what caused the accident.

After the collision, dozens of passengers, who had been safely evacuated, lined up beside the train tracks, close to where the collision occurred.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) spokeswoman Debbie Hersman said the cars on the train that was struck contained data recorders that will be examined once rescue operations are completed.

Hersman said the striking train was made up of older cars that the NTSB had recommended be replaced about three years ago. She said it was impossible to determine what role the older cars played in the developments.

The spokeswoman said the older cars did not contain data recorders, but the tracks and other physical evidence will be examined to determine what happened moments before the crash.

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