Ohio mass transit companies should learn from recent derailment

Taking buses, trains and other mass transit vehicles are some of the fastest and most economical means of transport for some Summit County, Ohio residents. Using mass transit, such as buses, is also one of the safest.

However, that does not mean that mass transit companies, such as train companies, should be complacent when it comes to safety. Overlooking even the smallest safety detail can cause a train accident, which can lead to catastrophic results.

Take, for example, a train derailment in New York, which recently caught the attention of people across the country. New York’s subway system is one of the world’s largest and boasts of 5.4 million passengers every weekday. Derailments are said to be rare in this particular subway system but, a few weeks ago, a train carrying 1,000 passengers went off its tracks, injuring more than a dozen people.

At around 10:40 a.m., six of the eight cars of the F express train derailed. According to passengers, the subway train started to shake and tilt and then came to a screeching halt. There were sparks from the side of the train, which caused the train to fill with smoke. Passengers were terrified since the train also went dark and the doors were locked.

Firefighters, police and emergency personnel responded to the scene. It took approximately one hour to evacuate the passengers of the train. Four people sustained serious injuries and had to be hospitalized. The cause of the accident is still uncertain, however, the train operator will be tested for alcohol and drugs.

Mass transit accidents, such as the one that recently occurred in New York, should serve as a reminder for Ohio mass transit companies that safety should always come first. Such accidents can result in numerous injuries and fatalities as well as extensive property damage. A Summit County resident injured in a mass transit accident because of the vehicle’s operator or the mass transit company’s negligence may wish to file a legal action to hold the negligent party or parties liable.

Source: Ohio.com, “New York City subway train derails; 4 hospitalized,” Jim Fitzgerald and Frank Eltman, May 2, 2014