Investigators continue to examine the aging technologies involved in the June 22 collision of two trains in D.C. and the actions of Jeanice McMillan, 42, the operator of the trailing train that struck the first train. Nine people, including McMillan, died, and 80 people were injured in the collision.
In a phone interview June 29, media contact Bridget Ann Serchak of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told the Epoch Times that an investigation like this typically takes about 15 months. “We should have another advisory out in a day or two, certainly before the 4th of July, with any additional factual information that we can provide. But we wouldn’t provide results this early in an investigation for any reason,” said Serchak.
According to the last NTSB update on the investigation into the collision, published on NTSB’s Web site June 25, investigators found streak marks on the rails of the track for about 125 feet near the point of impact, consistent with heavy braking.
When investigators conducted tests at the accident site two days after the collision, the complex train control system, which should have prevented the collision, failed to detect a similar train that was stopped at the same location as the train that was struck on June 22, according to NTSB’s Web site.
Metro General Manager John Catoe told board members June 25 that an estimated 3,000 signaling circuits in the Metro system are being inspected, according to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Web site.
“We do not know if the circuits had anything to do with this accident, but we won’t just sit back and wait for someone to tell us,” said Catoe. “We’re going to be proactive and get out there to test all of them … We will not rest until we have the answers. We will take action to improve safety and ensure the confidence of our customers,” according to a press release on WMATA Web site.
In a phone interview June 29, media contact Bridget Ann Serchak of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told the Epoch Times that an investigation like this typically takes about 15 months. “We should have another advisory out in a day or two, certainly before the 4th of July, with any additional factual information that we can provide. But we wouldn’t provide results this early in an investigation for any reason,” said Serchak.
According to the last NTSB update on the investigation into the collision, published on NTSB’s Web site June 25, investigators found streak marks on the rails of the track for about 125 feet near the point of impact, consistent with heavy braking.
When investigators conducted tests at the accident site two days after the collision, the complex train control system, which should have prevented the collision, failed to detect a similar train that was stopped at the same location as the train that was struck on June 22, according to NTSB’s Web site.
Metro General Manager John Catoe told board members June 25 that an estimated 3,000 signaling circuits in the Metro system are being inspected, according to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Web site.
“We do not know if the circuits had anything to do with this accident, but we won’t just sit back and wait for someone to tell us,” said Catoe. “We’re going to be proactive and get out there to test all of them … We will not rest until we have the answers. We will take action to improve safety and ensure the confidence of our customers,” according to a press release on WMATA Web site.
