Three firefighters and 12 train passengers were injured when a Brightline passenger train collided with a fire truck on an emergency call in Delray Beach, Florida, on Saturday morning. The incident, which occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m., has prompted an investigation involving the Delray Beach Police Department, Brightline, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Collision Details
Video footage released by Brightline shows the fire truck crossing the tracks shortly after a freight train passed in the opposite direction. According to The Associated Press, the fire truck reportedly stopped at the crossing but then drove around the lowered crossing arms after the freight train cleared the area.
Authorities said the three firefighters were hospitalized and are in stable condition. Minor injuries were reported among the train’s passengers, who were transported to the hospital with assistance from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Fortunately, no fatalities occurred.
Ongoing Investigation
The NTSB is currently gathering information but has not yet launched a formal investigation. Authorities temporarily closed the roadway at the crash site, which will reopen once investigations and cleanup operations conclude.
At a press briefing, Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin stated that the fire truck might have been responding to a concurrent emergency call, but further details were unavailable.
Brightline’s Safety Record
Brightline, which operates passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami, has faced safety concerns since it began operations in South Florida in 2018. The collision on Saturday adds to a history of incidents involving Brightline trains, including 34 fatalities from September 2023 to June 2024 along its route, according to federal data. None of these incidents were attributed to Brightline’s operations.
Brightline has emphasized its commitment to safety with an ongoing public awareness campaign, encouraging individuals to pledge to adhere to rail safety rules. Over 45,000 people have signed the pledge to date.
The collision underscores the importance of rail safety and adherence to traffic regulations, particularly around active railroad crossings. Further updates on the investigation and recovery efforts are expected in the coming days.