2 DC Metro workers killed on tracks

[LiberalEsto]

Source: Washington Post

Tuesday, January 26, 2010; 1:48 PM

WASHINGTON -- Two veteran workers on the Washington area's transit system were struck and killed by a maintenance truck while working on a track Tuesday, the latest in a string of fatalities on the Metro system since last year.

Jeff Garrard, 49, and Sung Oh, 68, were installing safety equipment on a track that was closed to regular service for the night when they were hit. One of them died at the scene, a few blocks from the Rockville Metro Station in Maryland, and the other on the way to a hospital.

Metro says both men lived in Montgomery County, Md., and were automatic train control technicians. They were hit by a large truck equipped to drive on the track when electricity is shut down.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/26/AR2010012600883.html

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Metro is a total disaster. How many fatal accidents and near-misses have there been in the past year?

I just saw the head of the Metro governing board on TV; he said this was caused by human error.

My husband rides the Metro Red Line from Shady Grove to downtown.

He told me when he got to Shady Grove today around 6:15 a.m. the station was closed because of this accident, which happened between the Shady Grove and Rockville stations. About 200 people were waiting at Shady Grove for shuttle buses to take them to the next operating Metro station.

Since he had to be at work early, he drove to the Glenmont station at the other end of the Red Line and parked there.

Last night it took him 2 hours to get home via Metro. He had to wait until 7 full trains had passed, in order to get on a train that had room for him to board.

I think there needs to be a complete takeover of the Metro by the feds.

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. And why was a 68 year old man still doing manual labor?

He should have been home enjoying his retirement. :(

[LiberalEsto]

4. Probably couldn't afford to retire

because of the economy. Poor guys.

[virgogal]

6. Why shouldn't he be doing it? That was an ageist remark if I ever saw one.

He could have been in better shape than many half his age.

[verdalaven]

10. My boss is 68

I dread the day she decides to retire. I love her. She is the best boss I have ever had.

Edited to add my silly point. :) Age is meaningless in this day and age. People are younger, health wise, and some really do want to work.

[theHandpuppet]

2. I agree with you

Something is SERIOUSLY WRONG when there are this many fatal accidents within a year's time. Some heads need to roll and competent persons put in charge.

[napi21]

3. That's inexcusable! The guys driving that truck should be

charged with crimininal indeference, and negligence!

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. If they were at fault.

Maybe they were routed onto that track in error, by someone else.

[LiberalEsto]

5. 11 people were killed on Metro in 2009

I just looked that up.

[jtrockville]

9. WTOP has a list of the injuries/deaths since June 2009 (LINK)

http://wtop.com/?nid=30&pid=0&sid=1873224

[MadMaddie]

8. Infrastructure! Infrastructure! Infrastructure!

Our Infrastructure is in disray, any way you slice it and dice it these deaths are symptoms of a broken infrastructure

May they RIP!

[DebbieCDC]

11. I lived in DC for a long time

And Metro used to be the safest thing around. Years and years with never a problem. I rode it every day for many years, both from NoVa, the MD suburbs and within the District. The whole time I lived in DC ('81 to '86 and again from '88 to '03) I think there were less than 10 fatalities in that entire span of 20 years. Now to have that many deaths in one year -- has it really gotten so bad since I left in '03?