A South Seattle pedestrian accident involving the light rail train resulted in two deaths, prompting the temporary closure of the train service.
Seattle law enforcement officials said that the train struck and killed two pedestrians at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and South Alaska Street Friday evening. The pedestrians were allegedly crossing in a crosswalk during a “Don’t Walk” signal prior to the collision. Following the accident, officials were called to the scene.
Firefighters eventually pulled the two victims from under a light rail car.
One of the victims, a 76-year-old woman, died at the scene, while a 66-year-old male victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He later died from his injuries.
Following The Train Accident, Roads And Rail System Were Temporarily Shut Down
As officials investigated, drivers were told to find alternative routes as all lanes of traffic at the intersections were closed and train passengers were transferred onto a shuttle so they could arrive at their destination.
The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad were called to the scene to fully investigate the train crash and help determine the causes that led to the deaths of the two pedestrians.
WSDOT: Prevent Train Accidents By Following These Safety Tips
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) urges pedestrians and drivers to help avoid collisions by remembering that trains always have the right of way.
Because trains are heavy, they cannot stop quickly even if traveling at low speeds. And even if the locomotive engineer sees pedestrians or vehicles nearing the tracks, he or she will likely fail to stop the train in time to avoid an accident. For that reason, respect traffic signals and never try to “beat the train,” as they move faster than they appear.
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