Brightline Train Accidents: Surge in Melbourne
Melbourne recently witnessed a distressing series of events, with two consecutive Brightline train accidents within just two days. The two accidents resulted in three fatalities altogether. The National Transportation Safety Board is taking action, dispatching a team to investigate why these incidents persist at the same intersection in Brevard County.
According to a report from Florida Today, the most recent tragedy occurred on January 12th when a southbound Brightline train collided with a pickup truck. The Brightline train accident claimed the lives of both the truck’s driver and a passenger. Two days earlier, on January 10th, another collision took place at the same intersection involving a northbound Brightline train and an SUV. The SUV’s driver lost their life, and three others, including a nine-year-old boy, sustained injuries. Melbourne police are actively investigating both accidents. Preliminary findings suggest that the January 12th incident occurred as the pickup truck’s driver attempted to drive around the lowering warning gates at the intersection, just as the train approached.
Melbourne now grapples with a challenge that has haunted South Florida since the inception of Brightline in 2017 – a surge in fatalities accompanying the high-speed rail service. Brightline stands as one of the deadliest train routes in the country, attributed to South Florida’s congestion, the densely populated urban area between the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean, and various other factors. These all contribute to nearly 100 deaths linked to Brightline train accidents in just a few short years.
Brightline: Plagued by Problems
The extension of the Brightline commuter rail service from West Palm Beach to Orlando in 2022 expanded high-speed rail connectivity across Florida. However, this advancement in transportation options comes at a significant human cost. A recent analysis shows since 2017, a staggering 364 people in Florida lost their lives in train accidents involving 13 different companies. Notably, 97 of these fatalities were attributed to Brightline train accidents. Almost half of these cases involved individuals walking or running on or along the tracks.
Contact Schwed, Adams and McGinley
At Schwed, Adams and McGinley, P.A., our seasoned personal injury attorneys boast over 200 years of combined experience in representing individuals affected by railroad accidents resulting in wrongful death or catastrophic injuries. Trains, owing to their high speeds, pose a significant challenge to quick stops, especially when railroad employees are not as vigilant as required. Unfortunately, accidents involving trains, a scenario all too familiar since Brightline’s introduction to South Florida, often lead to severe injuries or fatalities for those involved.
If you or a loved one has suffered in a train accident, reach out to the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams, and McGinley, P.A. Call us at 877-694-6079 or email contact@schwedlawfirm.com to schedule a free consultation concerning your situation.