Brightline passenger recounts moment of impact in Delray Beach fire truck collision
WEST PALM BEACH — A passenger aboard a Brightline train that collided with a Delray Beach fire truck Saturday morning, injuring 15 people, described what it felt like during the moment of impact.
"We felt an initial brake, and then the impact happened almost immediately after the brake," said Zach Thrasher.
The passenger said that the Brightline train had just passed a supply train when it crash onto a Delray Beach fire truck. Thrasher aid he didn't have time to brace for impact as everything happened in seconds.
Thrasher said he was in the fifth train car from the front, telling CBS News Miami the table on top of his seat saved him from getting more than a few minor bruises.
"I'm happy the table was there, but if it wasn't there I probably would have flown into the seat in front of me," he said.
Thrasher documented getting off the train. He said there wasn't panic, but other people were shaken up by the incident.
"The staff did a really good job of quickly calming everybody down making sure we knew what was happening," Thrasher said.
Brightline video captured the crash with the fire truck
Brightline released a video from the train that hit the fire truck, showing the guardrails down while the truck was on the tracks by Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast First Street.
"Railroad safety is a community-wide effort," the private rail company said in a statement on Saturday. "For everyone's safety, never drive around crossing gates when they are down."
Three firefighters and 12 passengers were hurt from the incident.
Witnesses described what the collision sounded.
"We heard this incredibly destructive sound," said Adam Palance. His daughter, Isla Palance, added: "It like crashed, it was like ka-boom."
Officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
