june washington metro train collision afternoon rush hour june subway train train collision occurred southbound washington metro trains northeast washington united_states moving train collided train stopped ahead train operator passengers killed making deadliest crash history washington metro survivors trapped hours approximately injured investigation found june replacement track circuit component site june collision track circuit suffering parasitic left unable reliably report stretch track occupied train struck train came stop traffic ahead entire train faulty circuit invisible system train commanded proceed mph operator striking train applied emergency brake stopped train came view time prevent collision occurred approximately mph collision approximately utc monday june washington metro train bound left station minutes later train rear ended train stopped fort stations waiting train leave fort station people killed including operator lead car moving train springfield virginia people injured death toll makes crash deadliest metro history found train come stop entirely faulty circuit making effectively invisible automatic train control system trains received speed commands traveling circuit forward momentum circuit resume detection speed commands system train going slower normal driven manual mode operator came stop remaining circuit invisible train given speed commands proceed track investigation found emergency brakes applied operator train train came view late collision series collisions similar circumstances tunnel stations led new test procedure identified faulty circuit installation metro engineers unaware incident tests developed detect failure condition rolling stock involved train moving train cars series train stationary train cars series cars equipped board systems called allow autonomous operation little human intervention response entered car lead car train car rear car stationary train trapping passengers required rescue emergency workers access survivors described crash like hit concrete wall air smoke debris panic passengers car doors immediately open united_states_army soldiers lead train collision helped passengers appeared minor injuries evacuate train noticed people train ejected force collision seriously injured person overtaking train thrown roof stationary train suffered severe head wound soldiers gave aid seriously injured victims help arrived informed responding emergency personnel rails powered needed shut immediately following collision firefighters emergency medical services dispatched station arrived location collision soon chief stated initial emergency calls incident small firefighters arrived scene dispatched mass casualty incident teams hours firefighters scene response alarm incident worked night june cranes heavy rescue equipment free trapped passengers search bodies chief initially confirmed fatalities including train operator injuries considered moderate critical dead discovered wreckage removed site collision morning june cranes wrecked trains revealed bodies fatalities eventually confirmed major general district_of_columbia air national guard known deploying fighter jets defend washington september attacks killed collision wife ann passengers killed crash according administration homeland security official overall emergency response calm ordered indicating emergency response extraordinary incidents significantly improved september attacks service disruption immediately following incident services suspended stations closed service stations suspended pending completion initial investigation clearing debris section expected remain shut june washington mayor said transportation east_coast significantly impacted amtrak run tracks adjacent crash site bus services effected route passengers closed track area severely affected federal government urged employees capital area june possible projected crowded resumption service advised people alternate bus routes replacement bus shuttle affected stations expected subjected long delays services restored directions saturday june reduced maximum speed mph entire slower speeds area collision aftermath initial inquiry shortly incident general manager stated cause known system safe began investigation investigators considered possible causes include operator error brake failure fault signal operation system combination rush hour operation train movement typically controlled centralized computer system separate system automatically apply brakes prevent collision systems failed past subsequently identified incompatible specifications maximum capability trains rates system design train manual emergency brake applied driver event imminent collision driver identify hazard sufficient time stop officials indicated manual brake engaged possible brake system failed perform designed operator applied brake late lead car moving train months scheduled brake maintenance press conference evening june stated car stopped train series car car entered service lead car moving train series car later confirmed cars moving train series series entered service metro system opened refurbished motors converted propulsion mid-1990s cited series cars vulnerable catastrophic damage complete loss survival space longitudinal end structure collision recommended refurbishment entire series collision station series car train case confirmed car striking train rear car struck train space car striking train compromised called accelerated retirement series cars urged collision protection comparable series car additionally series cars lack data determining cause crash press conference stated basis suspend use series cars time later announced decision longer use series cars lead trailing units trains june issued press release stating agency likely know cause weeks months investigation hours incident confirmed evidence indicated emergency brake engaged operator additionally striking train automatic mode board software stopped train june tests foot long track circuit stopped train showed work correctly failing detect presence test train investigators placed said circuits vital signal system providing information authorization speed commands following train stopped short blaming case replaced track circuit system wide component designed years began failing years service agency claims newer failed prior event ordered inspection track circuits miles track test july announced track circuit accident site months prior collision found circuits system unusually disabled circuit immediately fixed created online circuit tracking system similar elevator report report accident released july blamed faulty track circuit automatic train control system causing crash press release detailing changes july anticipation release report memorials june sixth anniversary accident legacy memorial park honor victims opened ground broken exactly year previously mayor park features memorial wall inscribed sculptures honor person killed crash sculptures created sculptor memorial designed firm hunt design titled sacred grove representatives victims families city government officials attended dedication metro officials park located entrance close site collision week memorial dedication held hearings related fatal incident metro system happened earlier events noted commentators anniversary crash plaque charles bridge unveiled bridge crosses rail tracks site accident makeshift memorial maintained victims families attended unveiling mayor gray memorial plaque installed metro officials fort station subject complaints relatives dead claimed
June 2009 Washington Metro train collision