[RP TownTalk] Metro's press release on the accident

[Dwight Holmes]

For immediate release: March 26, 2009
Minor injuries reported

A Metrobus was involved in a collision with a MARC train and another
Metrobus at about 4:24 p.m. today (March 26) at Queensbury Road and
Lafayette Avenue in Riverdale, Md.

According to the preliminary report, Metrobus 6040, which had no
passengers on board and was operating an F4 route to the New
Carrollton Metrorail station, was traveling eastbound on Queensbury
Road and attempting to cross the railroad tracks when it was delayed
by a second Metrobus attempting to make a left turn.

The second Metrobus, number 9731, operating an F4 route to the Silver
Spring Metrorail station, was traveling westbound on Queensbury Road.
While bus 6040 waited for bus 9731 to complete its left turn, the
railroad crossing gate hit the rear of bus 6040 and it was unable to
move.

The impact of the train collision with bus 6040 caused it to spin and
strike the driver’s side mirror of bus 9731. Seven passengers on bus
9731 were taken to an area hospital with minor, non-life threatening
injuries. Approximately 12 people were on board the bus.

The bus operator of bus 6040, which was struck by the train, was taken
to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Prince George’s County police and fire authorities along with Metro
Transit Police and Riverdale Police are investigating this incident.
It is Metro’s standard procedure to remove bus operators involved in
an accident for drug and alcohol testing. In addition, Metro will
conduct its own internal investigation.