Metro Transit Simulates Train Derailment At Target Field
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A crashed train, dozens of screaming people and smoke was the catastrophic scene that played out Wednesday morning at Target Field.
Fortunately, it was just a drill.
But many scenes like that aren't.
Earlier this month, more than 200 people got hurt when a speeding train flew off the tracks in Philadelphia. Eight people died. Investigators are still trying to figure out why that train's engineer was speeding.
Metro Transit's training Wednesday was to prepare for emergencies. Federal guidelines require commuter rail operators to have this type of emergency response exercise every two years.
A training held at the Northstar Target Field state Wednesday morning simulated a crash that gave first responders the opportunity to go through the motions, just as they would in a real emergency.
The training involved several passengers.
One person was badly hurt and carried away from the scene on a stretcher.
Brenda Himrich, who's actually a Metro Transit employee, had the responsibility of being a blind passenger for the simulation.
"I was helped first by the conductor that was there and then he teamed me up with another able bodied passenger that was able to walk," Himrich said.
Officials wanted to make sure they are prepared to help everyone, just in case a train derails.
"Anytime you can spend the time training and partnering with the folks that you have to respond with, nothing but good can come out of that," Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel said.
The training lasted for about two hours and officials said things went well.