8 months ago
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- More and more evidence now points to a faulty electronic sensor in Monday's deadly Metro collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board has just released the results of its crash simulation. Investigators brought in a test train the same length as the train that was rear ended -- and put it right where that front train was stopped.
The electronic control system that is supposed to detect that it was there and warn other approaching trains -- failed to see it.
That means Jeanice McMillan, who was running her train as she was supposed to in automatic mode -- had very little time to slam on the brakes before the crash that killed her -- and eight others.
"I don't know if we'll have to replace every circuit, if we'll have to replace the hardware or software. But if we have to, that's what we'll do," says Metro general manager John Catoe.
The NTSB says Metro worked on the faulty circuit last year -- and again in the weeks leading up to the crash. But despite the go ahead from the safety board, Metro declines to say whether that was simply routine maintenance -- or an effort to repair a malfunction. "That is something I cannot comment on, based on the investigation by the NTSB," says Metro operations manager Gerald Francis..
Metro has taken plenty of heat from the safety board for continuing to use it's 30 year old 1000 series rail cars. It was one of those old cars that collapsed to just a third of it's length in Monday's crash.
From now on, those less crashworthy cars will be moved to the center of trains -- with the safer newer cars at either end.
There was plenty of speculation after the crash if McMillan might have been distracted. But her boss now says her cell phone was right where it was supposed to be -- in her knapsack.
Written by Bruce Leshan9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
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