Brightline releases video of moments before crashing into Delray Beach fire truck, injuring 15 people
WEST PALM BEACH — Private passenger rail company Brightline released a video Saturday night showing the moment one of its trains collided with a fire truck in Delray Beach earlier that day, injuring 15 people.
The crash led to delays and cancellations throughout the day for the private rail company.
The collision happened at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, according to Delray Beach Fire Chief Ronald Martin. Three firefighters and 12 passengers were hospitalized with minor injuries as a result of the crash, authorities said.
On Saturday, the fire truck lay in pieces as several tow trucks worked to remove them from the sides of the train track near the intersection of East Atlantic Avenue and Southeast 1st Avenue.
Brightline released a video on their X account of the moment one of its trains sped down the tracks passing a freight train. Stopping before impact, the video shows the fire truck crossing the tracks while the guardrails were down.
In the same post, Brightline wrote: "Railroad safety is a community-wide effort. For everyone's safety never drive around crossing gates when they are down."
Multiple agencies are involved in this investigation.
How Brightline passengers reacted to the crash
Video from inside the Brightline train showed passengers trying to wrap their heads around the chaos happening outside of their cabins.
Witnesses eating nearby described the moment they heard the crash, telling CBS News Miami that the moment it happened, they thought it was a building collapsing.
"All of a sudden we heard this incredibly destructive sound," said Adam Palance. "It almost sounded honestly like a building was collapsing."
"It sounded like a building was falling," added Isla Palance, his daughter. "It like crashed and it was like kaboom."
After the collision, people ran over to help those injured in the crash, as the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck lay scattered in pieces and the front of the Brightline train smashed inward.
"I saw two firemen on the ground — well, one fireman on the lawn and another fireman being helped out of his truck," Kristophe Lirola told CBS News Miami.
"I couldn't tell what it was I just saw something really big and I saw somebody climbing out of something," added Zoey Wexler. "I couldn't tell who it was or what it was."
Delray Beach Police, Brightline officials and the National Transportation Safety Board are working to figure out what led to this crash.
