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Officials: 9 injured after Metro bus collides with light rail train

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by Stacy Morrow & Courtney Zubowski / 11 News

Posted on February 8, 2010 at 4:12 PM

Updated Tuesday, Feb 9 at 11:49 AM

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Metro Collision
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HOUSTON -- Several passengers were injured Monday after a Metro light rail train collided with a Metro bus and derailed in downtown Houston.

The driver of the bus was headed west on St. Joseph Parkway when he ran a red light and collided with a train headed north on Main Street at about 3:30 p.m., investigators said.

"It was just horrible," said light rail passenger Maria Garza. "At the moment I didn’t know what to think. It was just something that happened really fast. It just took me by surprise."

The Metro bus driver and eight passengers were transported to area hospitals, officials said.

"I just fell back and didn’t say anything," said Bill Davis, a seventh-grade student who was taking the train home from school.

"I was just having flashbacks," he said. "It’s just like having your life flash in front of you."

Rush-hour traffic was disrupted as Metro crews worked to get the train back on track.

Investigators said there was a camera on board the train, and the accident was likely caught on tape. Metro will use that video as it investigates the accident.

The light rail service was expected to be running normally by Tuesday morning.

 

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redbone said on February 8, 2010 at 4:17 PM

That bus driver must have been drinking some good stuff.

atallblackman said on February 8, 2010 at 4:20 PM

why is nbcDFW.com carrying this story?

egrichards1 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:26 PM

it was inevitable... not just some dummy automobile driver.... but a highly trained profesional

kurtaz said on February 8, 2010 at 4:32 PM

Another one bites the dust. Another one rides the bus. And another one down and another one.....etc.

latinboia said on February 8, 2010 at 4:33 PM

Finally the light rail lost the BUS knock the light rail out

mewp12 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:37 PM

And they want to build another one.

aahtue said on February 8, 2010 at 4:41 PM

This is exactly the reason why it never made sense to me why Metro Rail was built on the streets to operate within the same capacity with other vehicles! It causes added traffic congrestion and collisions, as seen here! Metro Rail is and has always been a very poor transportation system. It should have atleast been elevated! Could you imagine this same system running in other parts of the city and causing vehicle/pedestrian accidents simply because it shares the street with other vehicles?! Thats like driving your car right beside a moving AMTrak train without any barriers between you and the train! I guess Metro figured that since the average Houstonian had never experienced a train system such as in New York and Chicago, that we would be gulible enough to accept a system much as the one in place now, mind you a train system that is prone to collisions since it started. Maybe Metro will have enough common sense to not build an expansion rail system on the street!

femmemechanics said on February 8, 2010 at 4:43 PM

accidents happen. somedays aren't yours at all.

native47 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:46 PM

egrichards1 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:26 PM it was inevitable... not just some dummy automobile driver.... but a highly trained profesional - Calling metro drivers professional is poetic license.

roystoll2 said on February 8, 2010 at 4:50 PM

In all sincerety they need to rethink this metro thing. More people would be for it if it was a state of the art monorail system, which would actually be an attration for Houston. It would require much less space and it would eliminate the fight over Houstons limited streets. They have been in over 80 accidents so far and that alone should tell you something is wrong. I stay away from downtown or wherever the metro runs as it is just too dangerous. Doing a monorail like Las Vegas has is the best and safest way to do it

doinitwell said on February 8, 2010 at 4:53 PM

Ugh. Light Rail wasn't the problem. The bus was. And with all the accidents it had in the begining that was because people refused to obey the traffic signs, lights and crossing signs. I've been a light rail passenger for about 4 years and I see nothing wrong with it. Maybe it should have been elevated but its not. this has reduced much traffic and saves on my daily commute.

dragondad02 said on February 8, 2010 at 5:25 PM

egrichards1, u obviously have never been on a metro bus to call them professional drivers, they have almost run me off the road more times than i care to remember. they suck.

my2sense said on February 8, 2010 at 5:28 PM

I am always so scared to drive downtown because of lightrail!

planetq said on February 8, 2010 at 5:46 PM

80 accidents vehicles vs. Metro Rail, wonder how many accidents Metro buses cause every year?? This accident was caused by a Metro bus driver running a red light--Metro Rail was not at fault!! I feel safer riding Metro Rail than I have ever felt riding Metro buses. Teach the bus drivers to follow the rules of the road AND DON'T RUN RED LIGHTS...oh yeah, and don't look directly at oncoming vehicles and turn in front of them (happens to me almost daily). If you are skeered to drive downtown because the little trains might run you over--please don't drive downtown!!! One less idiot driver that I have to deal with every day.

tazzmann said on February 8, 2010 at 6:07 PM

AAHTUE, I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY. YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE RAIL TRANSIT AT STREET LEVEL IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IF THE INCOMPETENTS AT METRO WOULD HAVE JUST GONE 200 OR SO MILES NORTH TO DALLAS. THE COULD HAVE LEARNED FROM DART (DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT) THAT YOU HAVE TO ELEVATE OR SUBMERGE RAIL LINES WHERE THERE IS LOTS OF AUTO TRAFFIC.. DID MAYOR PARKER SAY IT'S ABOUT TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE AT METRO?

raymon said on February 8, 2010 at 6:22 PM

Forget the ambulance, call me a lawyer$$

dubie said on February 8, 2010 at 6:27 PM

yeah raymon them dollars sign are dancing in their heads tonight, I,s got pain right here

catspaw said on February 8, 2010 at 6:44 PM

Well what we expect from a very bad, old design except to include the mess at Richmond and Alabama. The whole system has no signs to denote what is happening and where you need information it is missing. The rail is so confusing to those not use to it that many can't figure out what to do. Of course the experts were asked what would work and the builders built something else. The rail was about someone getting money to spend, so they spent it. No matter the cost or the wrecks poor planning caused. Hell I would be happy if the stripes on the streets and highways were visible as you drive. Or the pot holes where fixed. It was ill planned and spent money. Every time I see a train with one rider I figure that cost tax payers $15,000 for the trip.

texmwk said on February 8, 2010 at 7:07 PM

Three things that might have caused this 1. Texting 2. Talking on cell phone 3 Who Daut big bus

bearfoot said on February 8, 2010 at 7:10 PM

When was the first call made to a lawyer?

highballing said on February 8, 2010 at 7:43 PM

I wonder how many people got on the train after the wreck?

gulfdoc said on February 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM

Wow...Metro collided with Metro. Wonder who will be footing the bill of liability on this one......oh wait...John Q Taxpayer!!!!

ricks2cents said on February 8, 2010 at 9:18 PM

There is nothing wrong with MetroRail. Most of the accidents that involved it were caused by people running the red light, or ignoring all the 3 - 5 "do not turn signals". When the metro rail is crossing, all the lights turn red to make it safe. Some crossings are set up like if it was a train with lights and bars, people try to race across then blame metro for the accident if they don't make it. If they made it underground or elevated, people would complain about construction taking to long, being too expensive, and causing businesses to shut down... Metro bus drivers run the red light and cut people off all the time, its nothing new. and most of them run on bad brakes. We all know one thing is for sure, there is one more unemployed bus driver.

deborahdee said on February 8, 2010 at 10:21 PM

Many metro bus drivers think they have the right to cut in front of you, run red lights, ride your rear, etc… I see it ALL the time! Of course, most of the time, the metro bus driver is found innocent… even if people are killed… and even if they really were at fault. Just guessing… but this time the metro bus driver will probably be found at fault... only because he/she bullied a light rail train vs. one of us…

highballing said on February 8, 2010 at 10:23 PM

Unemployeed bus driver.Naw the union will get his job back.They have to have a very good reason to fire him.

oldgustav said on February 8, 2010 at 11:54 PM

The first call to a lawyer was made by someones insurance company when they told them they were going to subrogate the claim.

wheels said on February 9, 2010 at 12:42 AM

Sorry - bus driver. not buss driver. Course we should just kick both there butts anyway! :-(

wheels said on February 9, 2010 at 12:46 AM

Post the train video. I want to see the bus run the red light. I never saw that happen before. The bus drivers are so professional and would never mess up a multi million dollar train or bus!!

jjdoxy said on February 9, 2010 at 7:09 AM

Wanted: Bus Driver. Apply at Metro. must have experience dodging small trains.

houstonative78 said on February 9, 2010 at 8:17 AM

is being drunk a prequesite to driving a Metro bus now?!??!?!?! COME ON.... your a bus driver. you CANT RUN RED LIGHTS....

redwoman said on February 9, 2010 at 8:18 AM

I have to say that I ride Metro everyday (Park and Ride). I can't count the number of times I have seen the bus stop to pick up passengers and when they get ready to leave that bus stop to go to the next, a car in the lane left of the bus will turn right (going across a lane) in front of the bus. The metro bus drivers are not the only bad drivers downtown.

mabusincarnate said on February 9, 2010 at 11:02 AM

i'm willing to bet that the majority of the people speaking poorly of the light rail have never been to europe. we're behind the curve, people. there's no reason the average person should need a car to get to or around in downtown.

krusty_krab said on February 9, 2010 at 12:48 PM

I'm willing to bet $100 to $1 that the same ones bashing Metro, drive their own vehicle to work, have a business on Richmond Avenue, or weren't able to get employment with Metro. Also, those whooping and hollering about the Metro bus drivers running red lights, texting, talking on cell phones, are the same people that I see do it everyday, too. You can send my bet winnings to .............................

retiredtexan said on February 9, 2010 at 2:36 PM

You notice that you will never see Metro Officials get hurt on any of these accidents, thats because they don't ride Metro. A bus that don't go to their posh neighbor hoods, and a train that goes no where, a major waste of tax money. Houston had this in the 30s it was called a trolley and no body rode that either. I still remember the trolleys,fuel efficient , they were electric.

dragondad02 said on February 9, 2010 at 2:44 PM

Hey Krusty Krab, put me down for a couple of thou on that. and YOU send me the money

jim375 said on February 10, 2010 at 5:15 AM

IT WILL NEVER EVER BE THE TRAINS FAULT..................because if it were then some idiots would have to admit that its dangerous and maybe not cost efective