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VIDEO: Seven die in Washington Metro ‘thunder crash’
Paul Thompson in America23 Jun 2009
At least seven people have died in a “thunder crash” train collision — the worst disaster in the history of Washington DC's Metro system.
They included the woman driver of the train, named today as Jeanice McMillan, that collided with a stationary train near the US capital. More than 70 people were injured, at least six critically, in the rush-hour smash last night. Two are still in critical condition today.
A 14-year-old girl broke both her legs and many others suffered cuts and bruises as they were tossed from their seats by the impact. Fire crews searched through the night for more victims.
“It is a scene of real devastation,” said Debbie Hersman, from the National Transportation Safety Board.
Sabrina Webber, a 45-year-old estate agent who lives nearby, said she raced to the scene after hearing a loud boom like a “thunder crash” and then sirens. She said the first rescuers to arrive used the “jaws of life” to prise open a wire fence alongside the line.
The collision happened near the Maryland border in north-east Washington on the Metro's Red line — the busiest on the network. More than 200 fire fighters arrived to find one train on top of the other with its side split open. Metro chief John Catoe said the first train was stopped on the tracks, waiting for another to clear the station ahead, when the following train ploughed into it from behind.
Investigators will check if it ran through any red lights. Maintenance work was also being carried out on the Red line earlier in the day. Ms Hersman said tracks and signals would be checked. She said officials were searching for devices on the trains that record operating speeds and commands.
Passenger Jodie Wickett, a nurse, said: “I flew out of the seat and hit my head. There were a lot of people in very bad shape.” Student Brianna Milstead said: “I saw debris flying toward me. I was choking on the smoke.”
