FELA Lawyer News Blog

Archive for the ‘Washington DC Railroad News’ Category

WASHINGTON, DC – A welder, who was an employee of a company contracted by the WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority), was killed in a blast on October 6, while welding new rail sections in one of the tunnels near Union Station in D.C.

A worker was killed in an explosion while welding some new rail sections in a Metro Rail tunnel near Union Station in Washington, DC on October 6, 2013.

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WASHINGTON, DC – A Metro Red Line train derailed in Washington, DC just after midnight on August 30, causing delays for passengers. The Metro Red Line is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, the agency for Metrorail, located in DC.

A Metro Red Line train derailed in Washington, DC on August 30, 2013 while it was being moved to a rail yard. The train was not carrying any passengers at the time.

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WASHINGTON DC – On Monday, May 17, 2010, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced the proposal of a rule that would ban the improper use of electronic devices by railroad employees while on duty. The announcement was made by U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in his ongoing campaign to stop distracted driving.

Cell phones and handheld devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs)

A PDF of the Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register can be downloaded here.

The proposed rule is the latest in a number of actions taken by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to combat distracted driving. Secretary LaHood initially announced plans by the DOT to vigorously pursue steps to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving during a Distracted Driving Summit in September 2009. ... Read More

HUNT VALLEY, MD – The conductor of a light rail train was injured Tuesday morning, March 23, 2010 when a trailer truck collided with the train in Baltimore County, Maryland. The truck accident happened in Hunt Valley, near Cockeysville, where the railroad tracks intersect with Gilroy Road. The accident area is in the north part of the Baltimore metro region, 110 miles southwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 63 miles north of Washington, DC.

The impact of the truck collision trapped the train conductor in the crushed lead rail car. The conductor has been identified as 51 year old Deborah Morton. Local emergency personnel responded to the truck accident scene and worked to extricate her.

Shortly before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 23rd, a tractor trailer truck owned by Laurel, MD based John W. Ritter Trucking Company was headed north on Gilroy Road in Baltimore County, MD. The truck was driven by 53 year old Mark Szurek who was headed to the McCormick’s Hunt Plant in Hunt Valley, hauling a load of plastic containers. ... Read More