DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The fire truck struck by a Brightline train at a grade crossing last month, leading to injuries to 15 people, was responding to a report of a high-rise structure fire, City of Delray Beach officials said on Thursday.
The city’s police chief also confirmed that his agency has asked the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to take over the investigation of the incident.
The city had not previously disclosed details of the truck’s activity leading to the collision, WPBF-TV reports.
The Dec. 28 incident sent three firefighters to the hospital, two with serious injuries, while 12 people on board the train were also treated [see “Fifteen injured in collision …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 29, 2024]. The city says the train was traveling at 79 mph at the time of the collision.
Police Chief Russ Mager said in a statement that he had asked the Sheriff’s Office to take over the investigation because of the complexity of the incident, the number of agencies involved, and “the need for transparency. … This decision ensures the most thorough and impartial review possible.”
Four members of the city’s fire department — including two of the firefighters injured in the collision — have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues [see “Four members …,” News Wire, Jan. 3, 2025].
So, evidently, fire and rescue incidents fall on a sliding scale of seriousness, and the big ones give you a pass to risk a catastrophe driving to it?
I just don’t understand how this could have happen. The only thing I can think of is there may be something in that fire department of not always having good leadership in regards to safety?
I am a retired volunteer of a large fire department. Its current population served is 25,000 more then Delray Beach’s, with about 1,450 fire and rescue calls a year–no EMS services. All its drivers-engineers have to take many hours of instruction in the driving and operation of the rigs, both in the required original training and the required annual training. They first have to prove to be the most reliable driving the engines and other equipment before being allowed to become aerial truck approved.
The drivers are always warned and trained about the dangers of reckless driving which includes rail crossings. Plus it is ALWAYS emphasized in all training for all firefighters to take the extra seconds to be safe no matter what you are doing.
Why suspend four firefighters, I understand the driver and whoever was in the “Suicide” seat. Why the oother two? Most probable cause from what I’ve read is after the tank train on the other track cleared the gates started up and the truck moved forward as the gates came back down. Possibly on the wrong side of the road to avoid the cars on both sides of the tracks waiting for the tank train to pass,
Should they have seen the headlight on the Brightline train? Probably. Not totally smart but not totally reckless. IMHO
All 4 were suspended with pay pending outcome of the investigation. The 2 command officers are involved with training and procedures.
The gates never went up. Verified by on scene witnesses and data download of the crossing equipment.
They went around the traffic at the crossing, waited until the freight passed and then proceeded across the tracks. Probably got tunnel vision and didn’t look assuming the freight was the train keeping the gates down. Yes they should have looked to the right and would have seen the passenger train. May have looked and misjudged the speed of the passenger train. The speed and distance of trains can be deceiving when looking down the tracks at them.
Look for a federal grant request to build a new overpass in Del Ray Beach once the investigation is complete.
Was the fire truck driver one of the three injured?
If they had just waited 45 seconds, they could have still made it to the fire. Now they have no ladder truck
This isn’t the first fire department that thought they had permission to ignore crossing gates; but hopefully it will be the last.
What happened to the traffic accident that was originally reported that they were responding to? Maybe the fire started after the accident?
Responding to a fire doesn’t mean they can drive recklessly, driving around lowered gates on the wrong side of the road is just that.