NTSB Press Release
National Transportation Safety Board
Office of Public Affairs
PUPDATE: NTSB CONTINUES INVESTIGATION INTO WMATA ACCIDENT IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
January 29, 2010
The National Transportation Safety Board provides the following update on its investigation into the January 26th Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) accident in Rockville, MD, involving a hi- rail vehicle, in the work zone on the Red Line that struck and killed two employees on the track.
- The two employees who died were working with a third employee until the third employee's shift ended a few hours before the accident.
- WMATA rules governing the safety of employees on the right-of- way, de-energizing the 3rd rail power and establishing work zones is being reviewed by investigators.
- Currently, twelve employees have been interviewed: the four employees in the hi-rail vehicle at the time of the accident, three Operations Control Center (OCC) employees, two automatic train control employees, and three track employees. An additional three employees are scheduled to be interviewed today. Interview information received from OCC personnel will be reviewed and correlated with radio and telephone recordings.
- All radio and telephone communication, associated with this accident, is being compiled.
- NTSB's Highway Vehicle Group is inspecting the vehicle, reviewing maintenance records and performance specifications from the vehicle manufacturer, and also developing a speed estimate of the accident vehicle.
- The sight distance test, which will include evaluating visibility, is scheduled for next week.
- WMATA's training guidelines, related to the tasks being performed at the time of the accident, has been requested.
NTSB Office of Public Affairs: (202) 314-6100
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged with determining the probable cause
of transportation accidents, promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.
