BART Train Cars De-Rail, Catch Fire In Orinda; Several Injured Monday
Two BART cars in an eastbound train traveling between Central Orinda and St. Stephens derailed and caught fire early Monday, prompting a massive emergency response from BART and local police and fire.
The incident was reported at approximately 9:12 a.m. Though the incident was in its early stages, officials quickly ramped up their response to 2-Alarms.
There is an initial report of three persons injured including a young woman with a head injury being treated by first responders at a triage point at Orinda BART. Two men suffered injuries to the extremities, apparently incurred while attempting to escape the trains. Ultimately, about ten people were treated for a variety of injuries, all minor.
While some riders returned to Orinda BART – in some cases for treatment, in others for rides – many others opted to walk on to Lafayette station, which also closed following the crash.
BART officials said the derailment occurred when the train passed over the track-switching complex just east of the station, the train’s operator ordered to stop and manually throw a switch that train control’s remote equipment was unable to activate.
Transit officials brought in a crane to lift the train back onto the rails so it could be moved. BART spokesperson Jim Allison said the damaged section of track should be repaired and inspected prior to the resumption of train traffic by Wednesday.
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Not an auspicious start to 2024. I hope all involved, including those responding remain safe. For those injured, wishing them a speedy recovery. Onward we go !
(Edit)Amen to that, Jeff!
(Edit)That’s going to be hard to explain. We’ve been paying the bill.
(Edit)Not good start to the new year.
(Edit)Got your alert. Thanks!
(Edit)Thanks for Flashing!
(Edit)Everyone showed up for this one.
(Edit)Definitely a party out there this morning…
(Edit)Hats off again to the best local news team in the east bay.
(Edit)And a tip of the fedora to you, too!
(Edit)Nice work all!
(Edit)Not good.
(Edit)We were there and for about 25 critical minutes you were our only news source. Well done.
(Edit)Glad we were able to assist…
(Edit)Is there debris on the tracks? In the photo there appears to be long objects in and around the tracks. They almost look like poles. Maybe this is part of fixing the derailment.
(Edit)Those appear to be the insulating covers over the third (electric) rail that have been knocked off.
Ready to go for tomorrow?
(Edit)Asleep at the switch?
(Edit)That was crazy.
(Edit)Great coverage News24!
(Edit)Intense morning.
(Edit)Is anybody satisfied with Bart? Safety, cleanliness, reliability and lack of law enforcement seem to all be sub par relative to the fares and taxes we pay.
Yeah, and after 50 years it still can’t circumnavigate the Bay. More American Exceptionalism, sorry to say.