Injured Passengers Escaping Orange Line Fire Sue MBTA: Law Firm

BOSTON — Multiple passengers onboard the Orange Line train that caught fire over Mystic Bridge in Somerville last week have retained law firm Morgan & Morgan claiming they sustained injuries as they tried to escape the burning train, the firm said.

About 200 passengers were onboard the Orange Line train heading over Mystic River on July 21 when a loose piece of metal caused the train to catch fire over the bridge. The panic caused passengers to kick out the windows in an effort to escape, and one person even jumped off the bridge into the river below, the MBTA said, adding that no one was hurt.

But Thursday, Morgan & Morgan said it "has been retained by multiple people" who were hurt on board the train "sustaining injuries as they escaped."

The firm did not say how many passengers were injured or what kind of injuries they sustained.

Video posted to Twitter shows outside one of the train's cars where the chaos shows passengers climbing out of a window and jumping onto the tracks below. Another video posted to Twitter shows inside the car, where frantic passengers are shoving each other and screaming trying to fit out the window.

The fire came on the tail of an investigation from the Federal Transit Administration which flagged the MBTA for safety features, ordering it to take "immediate action."

The FTA's investigation began back in May after the agency told the MBTA they were "extremely concerned with the ongoing safety issues" following the death of a Red Line passenger who was dragged for at least 100 feet before succumbing to his injuries.

A preliminary investigation into the fire by the NTSB showed a metal cover on the bottom of the car becoming loose - hitting the electrified third rail and igniting the material under the train. The MBTA says the car and metal panel had been inspected last month.

The MBTA's preliminary investigation showed a metal cover on the bottom of the car got loose and hit the electrified third rail igniting material under the train. The T said the car and the metal panel were inspected last month.

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