A collision between a Brightline train and a fire truck responding to an emergency in Delray Beach, Florida, left three firefighters and 12 passengers injured on Saturday morning, authorities reported.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway, led by the Delray Beach Police Department, along with officials from the train operator Brightline and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Brightline provides passenger rail service between Orlando and Miami.
A video released by Brightline shows the fire truck crossing the railroad tracks shortly after a freight train passed in the opposite direction. According to a source familiar with the crash, the fire truck stopped at the crossing before driving around the lowered crossing arms after the freight train had cleared.
The three firefighters from Delray Beach Fire Rescue were taken to a hospital where they are in stable condition. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue helped at the scene, transporting passengers from the train with minor injuries to the hospital. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.
The NTSB is collecting factual information about the incident but has not yet officially launched a formal investigation, according to the agency.
The crash occurred around 10:45 a.m., temporarily closing the roadway. Authorities have said the road will reopen once the investigation and cleanup are complete.
Delray Beach Fire Rescue had been responding to another emergency call just before the collision, according to Ronald Martin, the agency’s chief, who spoke at a news conference later in the day. He did not have specific information on whether the fire truck was responding to that call.
Brightline, which began operations in South Florida in 2018, has had previous incidents involving its trains. Since expanding service from South Florida to Orlando in September 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration reported 34 deaths in incidents involving Brightline trains from September 2023 to June 2024 along the entire route between Orlando and Miami.
However, none of these incidents have been attributed to Brightline’s actions. The company has launched a safety campaign that encourages people to take an online safety pledge, which has garnered over 45,000 sign-ups, according to its website.
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