15 Injured in Florida When Fire Truck Collides with Bright line Train in Delray Beach

CGC News Reporter December 30, 2024

A fire truck collided with a high-speed Brightline passenger train in downtown Delray Beach, Florida, on Saturday morning, injuring three firefighters and a dozen train passengers. The crash occurred at 10:45 a.m. when the fire truck, with its emergency lights flashing, drove around lowered rail crossing arms to cross double tracks, waiting for a freight train to pass. Video footage of the incident shows the fire truck maneuvering around stopped cars before it was struck by the oncoming Brightline train.

The collision resulted in significant damage, with the fire truck’s ladder ripped off and scattered several yards away. The front of the train was destroyed and stopped about a block from the fire truck. Three Delray Beach firefighters were transported to a hospital in stable condition, while 12 passengers from the train were treated for minor injuries.

The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the incident, and the National Transportation Safety Board is gathering information to decide whether to open an investigation. This accident adds to ongoing concerns about rail safety, as Brightline trains have been involved in multiple fatal incidents since the service began in 2017.