Traffic & Transit
Aurora R-Line Accident: Speed Was Factor; Operator Fired, Say RTD
The Aurora light-rail derailment that severed a passenger's leg was caused by operator error, RTD said.
AURORA, CO – Speed appears to be the primary factor in a light-rail accident and derailment in Aurora that injured several passengers and severed a woman's leg. The operator of the train was fired, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) said in a statement released Friday.
"The speed of the train approaching a curve at Sable Boulevard appears to be the primary factor of the derailment," RTD said. The incident is still under investigation by both the RTD and the Aurora Police.
The accident happened Jan. 28 around 7:15 a.m., when an RTD R-Line light rail train jumped the tracks at Sable Boulevard while making the turn to the west on Exposition Avenue. A woman was thrown from the train when a door popped off. The woman's foot was severed, witnesses said. Police and other passersby attended to the woman until she was taken to the hospital by Aurora Fire Rescue, police said.
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RTD said investigators could find no flaws with the track and the train cars were examined with staff from the manufacturer, Siemens, and determined to be safe.
Light rail operators are trained to slow their trains when approaching sharp turns, RTD said.
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"Since it was found that this operator was not following safety protocol, RTD has terminated the operator."
“This unfortunate incident is troubling to me and the whole RTD organization, which is committed to providing safe service every day,” said RTD General Manager and CEO David Genova in a press release. “This is an extremely rare situation that we have never experienced in RTD’s nearly 25 years of light rail operation, and we’re doing all we can to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
The agency said they would continue to provide updates as the investigation unfolds and more information becomes available.
Due to an accident at Sable & Exposition, R line service between Florida Station to 13th Ave Station will be provided by bus shuttles. Info & updates here: https://t.co/j2aQgI6xxO
— RTD (@RideRTD) January 28, 2019
Image via Google Street View
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