10 years since Red Line crash: What it was like and how it shaped Metro

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10 years since Red Line crash: What it was like and how it shaped Metro
By Max Smith | @amaxsmith
June 21, 2019 3:50 am

Ten years after the deadliest crash in Metro’s history, the system is still struggling to bounce back and riders continue to feel the impact every day.

At the height of the evening rush on Jun. 22, 2009, one Red Line train slammed into the back of another that was stopped outside the Fort Totten Station. Nine people were killed and at least 80 were hurt. A memorial is scheduled Saturday.

The most obvious changes for riders in the aftermath of the 2009 crash were the expansion of track work shutdowns and the end of smoother automatic train operations.

While Metro has promised a return to automatic operations, there is still no schedule for that to happen, and the agency did not respond to a request for additional information about future plans.

‘Startled:’ First responders remember seeing train in the air

D.C. Fire Battalion Chief Tony Carroll, a lieutenant at the time, was one of the first to arrive at the crash site once dispatchers figured out the crash happened not at the Takoma Station, but instead just under the bridge carrying New Hampshire Avenue Northeast over the Red Line tracks.

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[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. How Metro Changed After The Deadly Fort Totten Crash 10 Years Ago

WAMU | Jun 21, 4:51 pm
How Metro Changed After The Deadly Fort Totten Crash 10 Years Ago
Jordan Pascale

Saturday marks the 10-year anniversary of the deadliest crash in Metro history. ... On June 22, 2009, a steamy hot day, a southbound Red Line train was heading from Takoma to Fort Totten at rush hour. Sensors in the tracks were malfunctioning. The train’s computer controls did not see that another train was stopped just around a turn. Train operator Jeanice McMillan slammed on the emergency brake, but was too late. The train crumpled and cars ended up on top of each other. ... The crash killed McMillan, as well as eight passengers. Another 80 passengers were injured.

It was a wake-up call for both Metro and national transportation safety officials. The decade since the crash has seen WMATA prioritize safety and rethink the use of automated train operation, though that system was never faulted in the crash.

Today, Legacy Memorial Park sits just off New Hampshire Ave. in Northeast D.C. near the crash site. Nine stone columns represent the nine victims of the crash. Trees form a canopy representing the network of families, friends and first responders affected by the tragedy. From the park, you can hear the Red Line trains rumble behind you, but you can’t directly see the site of the crash.

Families and friends are set to gather in the park on Saturday at 10 a.m. for a memorial service.
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This story originally appeared on WAMU.