3 firefighters hospitalized, 12 people injured after Brightline train collides with Delray Beach fire engine, officials say
WEST PALM BEACH — At least three firefighters were hospitalized and a dozen people were injured after a Brightline train collided with a fire engine in Delray Beach on Saturday morning, officials said.
The crash happened just before 10:50 a.m. at the intersection of East Atlantic Avenue and Southeast 1st Avenue, Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin told reporters.
Photos shared by CBS News Miami viewers show a heavily damaged Brightline train stopped at the rail crossing with what appears to be the smashed fire engine behind it.
According to City of Delray Beach officials, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue provided assistance, taking a total of 12 people to the hospital with minor injuries.
Three firefighters were also injured during the crash, two of which were in critical condition at the scene. Martin said they were taken to Delray Beach Trauma Center, where they are now in stable condition.
Martin said there are no known deaths at this time.
One CBS News Miami viewer said on X that the fire engine was reportedly responding to a car crash in the area. Martin said there was a concurrent call for service just before the crash; however, he could not confirm whether the fire engine involved was responding or assigned to that incident as the timing is still unknown.
Martin added that he had not received information on whether the guardrail was down at the time of the crash.
In response to the crash, Brightline released a video right before the moment of impact on X, which showed the fire engine apparently crossing the tracks while the guardrails were down.
From the Brightline Safety and Security Team: Railroad safety is a community wide effort. For everyone’s safety, never drive around crossing gates when they are down. pic.twitter.com/6TSeHHOuyq
— Brightline (@GoBrightline) December 29, 2024
"Railroad safety is a community-wide effort," the commuter rail said. "For everyone's safety, never drive around crossing gates when they are down."
Delray Beach Police said on X the intersection of East Atlantic Avenue and Southeast 1st Avenue was closed due to the accident. Drivers in the area were advised to use Northeast 1st Avenue or Southeast 2nd Avenue as an alternative route as crews towed away the destroyed fire engine.
The Delray Beach Police Department, Brightline officials and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.