At Least Twelve Injured Passengers On Brightline Train. Firefighters On Delray Truck 111 Also Injured.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
UPDATE: 3:21 p.m. — BocaNewsNow.com again beat all media — local and national — with what has become a national story. Thanks to our sources and tipsters, our first report was published within minutes of the crash. It was nearly an hour before any other South Florida media reported the story. CNN didn’t report the story until nearly 3 p.m, more than four hours after our first report.
UPDATE: 2:55 p.m. — Delray Beach just issued this official statement: At approximately 10:45 a.m. today, a collision occurred between a Brightline train and a Delray Beach Fire Rescue ladder truck near E Atlantic Avenue and Railroad Avenue.
Three Delray Beach firefighters were transported to a local hospital, where they remain in stable condition. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provided assistance, transporting 12 individuals from the train to the hospital with minor injuries.
An active investigation into the cause of the collision is currently underway by the Delray Beach Police Department, officials from Brightline, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
As a result of the crash, E Atlantic Avenue at SE 1st Avenue is temporarily shut down. Authorities anticipate the roadway will reopen once the investigation and any necessary cleanup are complete.
UPDATE: 12:20 p.m. — It is likely that this crash will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
UPDATE: 11:59 a.m. — A witness tells BocaNewsNow.com that it appeared the fire truck driver drove the truck AROUND DOWN GATES, thinking that a freight train which had just passed through the intersection was the only train in the area. The fire truck driver apparently didn’t realize that a Brightline Train, coming from the opposite direction, had also activated the crossing gates. The fire truck got struck by the Brightline Train.
UPDATE: 11:44 a.m. — Search and rescue operations continue at the scene of the train vs. fire truck crash.
UPDATE: 11:41 a.m. — A total of three people were critically injured to the point of needing trauma care. All other injuries were apparently non-critical injuries.
UPDATE: 11:34 a.m. — Delray Beach fire crews are congregating at Delray Medical Center where multiple firefighters were apparently transported following the crash a short time ago between a Brightline Train and a Delray Beach Fire Truck.
UPDATE: 11:32 a.m. — A witness suggests that the Delray Beach Fire Truck driver was waiting for a freight train to pass. After the freight train passed, the fire truck crossed the tracks, but the crew was apparently unaware that a Brightline Train was coming from the opposite direction. That train struck the fire truck.
UPDATE: At 11:26 a.m, this is officially a “Mass Casualty Incident.”
UPDATE: At 11:23 a.m., we have learned it is Delray Beach Fire Rescue Truck 111 that was struck by the Brightline train. The fire rescue crew had been on a call when it was hit by the train. It’s unclear whether the call was on — or near — the train tracks.
DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Brightline Train slammed into a Delray Beach Fire Truck around 10:45 this morning. The incident happened in the area of Atlantic Avenue and Southeast First Avenue. A loud explosion was heard in the area.
Multiple firefighters were injured in the crash. We have learned as many as twelve passengers on the Brightline Train also sustained non-life threatening injuries. The scene is still be investigated as of 11:11 a.m. There may be more injuries.
All train traffic on the tracks is now stopped which means Brightline will experience major delays for the next several hours. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is being assigned to handle fire and emergency calls in Delray Beach which has assigned almost all of its fire resources to the train incident.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates on BocaNewsNow.com.
Sending New Year wishes that those injured heal quickly.
It was a miracle no one died.
Message to the Fire Truck driver
👇🏻
Remember what your parents always said when crossing a Street.
LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING!
Unbelievable that a fire truck driver could not or did not think that there could be another train coming. What was his or her rush in looking to drive around the gate that was down? How many times at various crossings trains may be about one minute apart from each other in opposite directions. The driver of the fire truck deserves to be fired and fined for what he or she did.
Only in Florida do trains not always have the right of way over a firetruck
I’m sorry for the poor judgment of the driver and officer on the Truck. My prayers are with all that have been hurt. I also on a FD. We have a major crossing in our town (98 trains a day) and will never go around down gates and active signals regardless of the call.
Thanks so much for keeping us updated!!! I saw you mentioned on MailOnline too!! Keep up the good work..
So the fire truck driver drove around the gates that were down. As my grandpappy from Alabamy used to say: “There ain’t no cure for stupid.”
I guess many of us are realizing these Brightline trains are a mistake. They cause too much disruption on the east side. Its time to find a sturdier bar system to completely block the rails. Cheap ones have always been used because they get hit so often. Brightline needs to to pay for longer, heavier bars. Or else boot them out of Florida completely. Its not worth all the injuries and death.
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