One worker was killed and two others were injured in a construction accident along the Metro Red Line in Washington, D.C., shortly after midnight Sunday.
The accident occurred between Union Station and Judiciary Square stations, approximately 400 feet from the Union Station platform. Contractors and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority employees were removing old sections of rail and install new sections.
Investigators said there was a fire and loud noise that originated near heavy track equipment used to weld rail sections together in a continuous strip. The cause of the fire and noise has not been determined and it is not known if there was a fluid leak or other mechanical issue.
The incident caused a 40-foot section of rail to move, striking a contractor and two WMATA employees. The contractor, identified as Harold Ingram, 41, of Richmond, Va., was killed. Ingram was an employee of the Holland Company. According to officials with Holland Company, this was the first death on the job in decades and call the accident a big loss.
The two WMATA employees suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. They were transported to local hospitals.
All Red Line work was suspended until safety briefings and investigations were completed.
Metro is conducting an investigation and has notified the Tri-State Oversight Committee and the National Transportation Safety Board.
