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NTSB to Investigate Fatal Crashes Involving Brightline Train in Florida

By Freida Frisaro

FORT LAUDERDALE Fla. (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Saturday that it will be launching an investigation into two separate crashes involving Florida’s Brightline train. These crashes resulted in the tragic deaths of three individuals at the same railroad crossing along the high-speed train’s route between Miami and Orlando.

The two accidents occurred on Wednesday and Friday at a crossing situated along the U.S. 1 corridor in Melbourne, on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Since the launch of Brightline’s 160-mile extension linking South Florida and Orlando in September, there have been a total of five fatalities, according to data compiled by the Associated Press.

The most recent crash on Friday claimed the lives of Lisa Ann Batchelder, 52, who was driving the vehicle, and her passenger, Michael Anthony Degasperi, 54, both of whom were from Melbourne. The previous crash on Wednesday resulted in the death of Charles Julian Phillips, a 62-year-old driver whose vehicle was struck by the train. Three passengers in Phillips’ vehicle sustained injuries, as confirmed by Melbourne police.

During a press conference at the crash site, Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey revealed that the SUV involved in the most recent incident had attempted to outrun the train. Alfrey has since spoken with Brightline officials to discuss the possibility of launching another public safety campaign aimed at warning drivers against maneuvering around railroad crossings due to the high speeds at which the train operates.

“I cannot stress this enough: if the arm is down, do not go around,” Alfrey emphasized in an interview with Orlando television station WKMG. “There are no positive outcomes when it comes to a train. This is an unfortunate situation that has resulted in the loss of more lives. Safety precautions exist for a reason, and people must adhere to them.”

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

A team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to remain at the crash site for several days, commencing their investigation on Saturday.

“Our investigators will thoroughly examine the safety issues surrounding this particular crossing and explore potential strategies to prevent or minimize similar crashes in the future,” stated Sarah Taylor Sulick, a spokesperson for the NTSB, in a conversation with The Associated Press.

Sulick added that a preliminary report regarding the investigation’s findings will be released within 30 days, with a final report expected to be published within 12 to 24 months.

Despite not responding to an email seeking comment, Brightline has taken steps to enhance safety awareness by installing warning signs near railroad crossings to alert drivers of the presence of fast-moving trains.

The three fatalities in Melbourne this week bring the total number of deaths associated with Brightline since its inception in July 2017 to at least 108. This statistic equates to approximately one death for every 38,000 miles (61,000 kilometers) traveled by the train, making it the highest death rate among the over 800 railroads operating in the United States, based on an ongoing analysis conducted by the Associated Press since 2019. The next highest death rate among U.S. railroads that log over 100,000 train-miles a year belongs to California’s Caltrain commuter line, which has averaged one fatality for every 125,000 miles (201,000 kilometers) traveled during the same period.

It is important to note that none of Brightline’s previous fatalities have been attributed to the railroad’s negligence. The majority of incidents have involved suicides, pedestrians attempting to cross the tracks ahead of the oncoming train, or drivers who have chosen to bypass closed crossing gates rather than wait.

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