Accident – death – Obituary News :

Brightline Train Crashes Prompt NTSB Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that it will be launching an investigation into two recent crashes involving Florida’s Brightline train. The accidents, which occurred at the same railroad crossing on the train’s route between Miami and Orlando, resulted in the deaths of three individuals.

The first crash took place on Wednesday, and the second occurred on Friday. Both accidents happened at a crossing along the U.S. 1 corridor in Melbourne, located on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Since the extension of the Brightline train to link South Florida and Orlando was launched in September, there have been a total of five deaths reported.

The fatality from Friday’s crash has been identified as driver Lisa Ann Batchelder, aged 52, and passenger Michael Anthony Degasperi, aged 54, both residents of Melbourne. The crash on Wednesday claimed the life of 62-year-old Charles Julian Phillips, the driver of the vehicle that was hit by the train. Three passengers in that vehicle sustained injuries, according to the Melbourne police.

Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey, speaking to reporters at the scene, revealed that the SUV involved in the crash on Friday had attempted to outrun the train. He expressed his intention to discuss another public safety campaign with Brightline officials, urging drivers not to go around railroad crossings due to the high-speed trains.

The Brightline trains, easily recognizable with their bright neon yellow color, can reach speeds of up to 125 mph (201 kph) in certain areas. The journey between Miami and Orlando covers a distance of 235 miles (378 kilometers) and takes approximately 3.5 hours, making it about 30 minutes quicker than the average drive.

The NTSB team is expected to remain at the crash site for several days, starting from Saturday, to thoroughly investigate the safety issues surrounding the crossing and explore potential measures to prevent or reduce future accidents. Sarah Taylor Sulick, the NTSB spokeswoman, stated that a preliminary report will be issued within 30 days, followed by a final report within 12 to 24 months.

Brightline, the train company, has not yet responded to requests for comment. However, the company has taken steps to enhance safety by placing warning signs near crossings to alert drivers of the fast-moving trains.

This week’s fatal crashes in Melbourne bring the total number of deaths associated with Brightline trains to at least 108 since the service began operating in July 2017. An ongoing analysis conducted by The Associated Press reveals that this equates to one death for every approximately 38,000 miles (61,000 kilometers) traveled, making it the railroad with the highest death rate out of over 800 railroads in the United States. The second-worst death rate among railroads that cover at least 100,000 train-miles a year is California’s Caltrain commuter line, averaging one death for every 125,000 miles (201,000 kilometers) traveled during the same period.

It is important to note that none of Brightline’s previous deaths have been attributed to the railroad’s fault. The majority of incidents have involved suicides, pedestrians attempting to cross the tracks in front of the train, or drivers who have disregarded crossing gates and attempted to maneuver around them.

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