ALERT: Two Red Line Trains Collide, Fatal Head On at Fort Totten

If you need to call DC police to find out about loved ones, the number is 202.727.9099. Please do not goto the scene.

Breaking News: Two trains have collided head on at Fort Totten Metro station on the red line. Avoid the red line at all costs for the remainder of the day. Power has also been cut to the station and the area for safety reasons.

Fox 5 News article on this here. Also they have live coverage on air right now.

We hope everyone is ok...more details soon. Let us know if you know anything.

UPDATE (from WJLA):

D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter said one train was on top of the
other train. This is "developing into a mass casualty event," Etter
said. "We're expecting a number of injuries. We're not aware of any
fatalities at this point."

UPDATE 5:46PM: CNN is reporting that 9 people have been injured and at least 1 killed.

UPDATE 5:52PM: One train car is on top of another one, emergency response is growing tremendously. Crash is fatal unfortunately. Has been confirmed.

For downtown DC riders who need to go to Silver Spring area, s1/s2/s4 is an alternative for downtown to silver spring. Timetables here.

UPDATE 5:59PM: Continuously hearing reports that there are a number of people still trapped inside of the wreckage. This may be the car that is completely crushed and underneath of another Metro train car. Wreckage is under of New Hampshire Ave.

UPDATE 6:03PM:Confirmed by eyewitness that it was actually a head on with both trains moving at the time of impact. Still hearing that people are trapped inside of the wreckage. DC Fire has declared this a "mass casualty" event, which means at least 13 or more needing urgent medical attention.

UPDATE 6:10PM: Red line is shut down in both directions from Fort Totten. Last report is that 9 people are still trapped but hopefully that number is coming down quickly. Live press reports showing people being evacuated on backboard and helped off the tracks. Metro chief says "system is still safe" but crews are focused on helping everyone as quickly as possible.

UPDATE 6:13PM: Unfortunately there is a second fatality being reported. A rider from the train says that they were told they would be "Moving Momentarily" and then when they started to move there was a big jolt and people went flying. Passengers who were nurses went into action to help.

UPDATE 6:22PM:Confirmed that the two trains were in fact on the same track when they crashed into each other. Not sure how this is even possible, especially given communication via radio as well as track signals. Many wondering if this was related to single tracking because of maintenance, but that is only speculation. Based on the looks of the scene, 9 injuries is probably a very low initial estimate. Very sad event.

UPDATE 6:32PM: Many, many more injuries being reported. Pictures and videos of one car completely on top of another one are rather horrific. FBI is on scene but this is assume to be SOP for mass casualty event like this. Police are moving media and onlookers further back from the scene.

UPDATE 6:43PM: Confirmed that at least three people are still trapped on the train. Unknown if they are alive or not. Hoping they are.


Definitely a glimmer of hope: The train that sustained the major, major damage was inbound so it has far fewer people than an outbound train leaving downtown.

UPDATE 6:54PM: Most injured passengers are being taken to Washington Hospital Center, but all DC area hospitals have been put on alert - told to approach this as a mass casualty event and setup staging areas. Again, this is standard procedure...but still shows the scale of this unfortunate event.

UPDATE 6:58PM: MARC has stopped all Brunswick line trains out of Union Station. Sit tight commuters, or go for a walk on a really nice day otherwise.

UPDATE 7:05PM: WJLA is reporting that 40 people have been transferred to local hospitals for treatment. One of the deaths was a female train operator of one of the trains. Terrible. Press conference at 7:15.

UPDATE 7:10PM: Mayor is speaking on TV now about the event and has also said that 4 fatalities have been confirmed. This makes this the most deadly incident in WMATA history. Mayor says the fire department responded in 6 minutes to the incident. Fire chief believed incident was "small" at first, then first responders sounded further alarms.

UPDATE 7:21PM: Metro GM Catoe says that Metro was NOT single tracking at the time of the crash. Also, the rest of the red line, outside of the crash area, is still operating.

Collision was caused because one train stopped on the tracks and the train behind it hit them and the first car ramped over the stopped train. Driver of moving train was killed.