Witnesses Describe Minneapolis Fatal Light Rail Accident
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Metro Transit Police Department is investigating what led up to a Blue Line train accident that left one man dead on Sunday.
Witnesses say a man in a wheelchair was using a crosswalk near S. 24th Ave and E. 32nd St. in south Minneapolis. Richard Fossen described the victim as a man who appeared to be in his 50s and traveling with a caretaker and a few other people in wheelchairs.
Fossen says many people tried to rush to help the victim, but it all happened so fast. Stopped at a nearby light, Fossen immediately parked and tried to come help the man in the wheelchair on Sunday night around 6 p.m.
"I saw a wheel moving from the wheelchair then I noticed there was someone on the tracks," Fossen said.
Fossen says the victim wasn't trying to beat the train and the crossing arm came down just after the man fell onto the tracks.
Fossen believes the victim cut the corner as he tried to make his way across.
"It is shocking," Fossen said. "The impact and how loud it was, you knew it was trouble."
Metro Transit spokesperson Howie Padilla says three people have died in recent months in light rail accidents.
The recent events are prompting the public transportation operator to look into strengthening safety and signage along the Blue and Green Line's more than 20 miles of routes.
"If there is something that can be done to keep people safer we want to try to do it," Padilla said.
Fossen says it was dark out, and some snow and ice covered the sidewalk Sunday evening.
"He might not have recognized the danger he was in," Fossen said.
Padilla said he did not know if the City of Minneapolis or Metro Transit is responsible for the sidewalk area at the crosswalk, but the investigation would look into that among other possible safety changes.
Metro Transit plans to review the light rail system and have some concrete ideas for any changes within the next couple of weeks.
The victim's name not yet been released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office. The train operator is on paid administrative leave during the investigation.