Metro Worker Struck by Train in Alexandria

Regular service restored on Blue, Yellow lines

A Metro worker was struck by a train Thursday morning in Alexandria.

The incident happened near Slaters Lane and Route 1 between the Braddock Road and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport stations. The 44-year-old worker was taken by helicopter to a local hospital with injuries believed to be serious. Rescuers had to open an emergency escape hatch to get the worker out of the tunnel.

At about 10:40 a.m., the operator of an outbound six-car Yellow Line train reported striking someone, Metro General Manager John Catoe said outside a Metro Board meeting at which safety issues were being discussed. The train remained in the tunnel for about 40 minutes, according to one of the passengers on board.

The worker, a communications technician, has been with Metro for almost 13 years. His job includes repairing the communications network that alerts the Operations Control Center to information coming from sources like fire alarms and sensors.

Service was restored about two hours after the incident, Metro said. Riders still should expect delays in both directions Thursday afternoon.

All Metrorail stations remained open following the incident, but service was altered. The Blue Line was split into two segments one operating between the Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road Metrorail stations and one between the Largo and Reagan National Airport stations. The Yellow Line also was split into two segments -- one between the Huntington and King Street stations and one between the Fort Totten and ReaganNational Airport stations. Free shuttle buses carried passengers between the King Street, Braddock Road and Reagan National Airport stations.

Metro is investigating and has notified the National Transportation Safety Board.

On Aug. 9, a Metro worker was struck and killed by a piece of machinery while making repairs between the Dunn Loring-Merrifield and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU stations on the Orange Line.

Contact Us