A train collided with a fire truck in Delray Beach, Florida, on Saturday morning, injuring three firefighters and 12 passengers. The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. as the fire truck was responding to an emergency call.
The collision involved a Brightline passenger train, which provides rail service between Orlando and Miami. According to authorities, the fire truck crossed the railroad tracks shortly after a freight train had passed in the opposite direction. A video released by Brightline shows the fire truck stopping at the crossing, only to drive around the lowered crossing arms after the freight train passed.
The Delray Beach firefighters were transported to a nearby hospital, where they remain in stable condition. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred, but 12 passengers from the train were also injured, though their injuries were described as minor. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue assisted at the scene, ensuring passengers were safely brought to the hospital.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, led by the Delray Beach Police Department, Brightline, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While the NTSB is gathering factual information, they have yet to launch a formal investigation into the incident.
The crash caused a temporary shutdown of the roadway, which authorities anticipate reopening once the investigation and cleanup are completed. At a news conference, Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin confirmed that the fire truck was responding to a concurrent call for service before the crash but did not provide further details on whether that was related to the collision.
This incident is not the first involving Brightline trains. The Federal Railroad Administration reported 34 fatalities in incidents with Brightline trains between September 2023 and June 2024. However, none of these incidents have been attributed to the company. Brightline has been operating in South Florida since 2018 and continues to promote its safety campaign, with more than 45,000 people pledging to follow safety protocols around the trains.
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