On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, about 8:06 p.m. eastern standard time, a Nissan Rogue sport utility vehicle (SUV) occupied by a driver and one passenger was traveling south on Old Dixie Highway in Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida. The SUV turned right onto Lindell Boulevard (westbound) and approached a railroad grade crossing, consisting of two main tracks, just west of the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and Lindell Boulevard. As the SUV turned, a northbound Florida East Coast Railway freight train approached the Lindell Boulevard grade crossing, which activated the crossing’s flashing lights and gates. The SUV drove past the crossing’s white stop line and stopped with its front tires on the nearside rail of the east main track. As the northbound freight train cleared the crossing, at about 8:08 p.m. a Brightline intercity passenger train approached the grade crossing, traveling south. Upon learning of the SUV being stopped on the tracks, the Brightline train crew blew the horn and put the train into emergency braking. The southbound passenger train entered the grade crossing and struck the stopped SUV. Debris from this crash struck the Acura passenger car causing damage only. The two SUV occupants died from injuries sustained in the crash.
This investigation was initiated in support of the NTSB’s investigation of a series of grade crossings crashes involving the Brightline passenger rail service. We have produced an investigation close-out memorandum, which can be found in our docket. No further action specific to the Delray Beach, Florida crash will be taken. However, information from the items in the docket for this investigation may be used in future reports and/or activities.
