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UPDATED: 6 dead in worst ever Metro crash in Washington

June 22, 2009

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In the worst disaster in Metro history, at least six people died and 70 injured Monday when a Metro train crashed with another train during rush hour between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations near the Maryland and District of Columbia border.

More than 200 firefighters from departments throughout the metro area were still searching for casualties in the wreckage more than three hours hours after the crash occurred about 5:02 p.m. One train was resting on top of the second "piggyback-style."

Metro officials said one of the fatalities was a female Metro worker.

"I saw [a dead body] covered with a sheet and I saw the other people with neck braces," said Latasha Gray, 27. "I just thought it was something going on at the warehouse. It sounded like an explosion," according to Washington Times.

One of the trains was stopped on the tracks waiting for another train down track to leave a station when, for an unknown reason, another train slammed into the back of the first train, said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

"We want to express our condolences to all of the family members -- obviously they haven't even been notified yet," D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said during a news conference near the crash site. "Our hearts go out to the many loves ones."

Two of casualties are listed as serious, while about 20 while suffered moderate injuries, said District Fire Chief Dennis Rubin. About 50 passengers suffered less severe injuries, which Mr. Rubin called "walking wounded."

Mr. Fenty, during a mid-evening news conference, said the front part of train that ran into last part and the train is 50 percent to 70 percent "compressed."

In November 2004, an unoccupied six-car train headed for a rail yard backed into an occupied train that was stopped at the platform in the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan station on the Red Line. That collision also injured 20 persons, says Washington Times.