Decatur PD and MARTA Official Reports on Bus/Train Collision
Decatur Metro | May 23, 2013 | 9:59 amHere’s the official report from Decatur PD:
On Wednesday May 22, 2013 the Decatur Police Department investigated a traffic collision involving a MARTA bus and CSX train. The incident occurred at approximately 6:22 a.m. at the North McDonough Street railroad crossing. The bus driver stated the bus became “stuck” while crossing the railroad tracks. The bus was struck by a westbound train and incurred heavy damage. The driver and all passengers vacated the bus prior to the collision and no injuries were reported.
Due to the accident the intersections of North McDonough Street at West Howard Avenue and South McDonough Street and West College Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic for approximately the next twenty-four hours. During this time repairs will be made to the railroad tracks.
And here’s MARTA’s official report on the incident via Patch…
MARTA is conducting a thorough investigation into an accident this morning involving a bus on Route 123 that was struck by a freight train at a railroad crossing in the City of Decatur.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the accident which occurred about 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of South McDonough and East Howard Avenue. MARTA Operator Donna McMullen was travelling northbound with four passengers aboard when she reported the bus became “stuck” as it proceeded across the tracks.
As a westbound train approached, Operator McMullen followed MARTA emergency protocol and safely evacuated the bus. The ensuing impact caused serious damage to the bus which was later towed from the accident scene.
Operator McMullen, 61, has been employed by MARTA since 1994. Following the accident, a mandatory drug and alcohol test was administered and she has been placed on leave, with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The bus involved in today’s accident had no known mechanical problems; the maintenance record for the vehicle is available upon request.
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May 22, 2013 Freight Train Hits MARTA Bus at McDonough Crossing in Decatur This Morning (59)
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November 19, 2010 Time Correction: East Lake MARTA Emergency Response Exercise (0)
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May 22, 2013 Decatur PD: McDonough Intersection Likely Closed For Next 24 Hours (7)
So glad the bus driver seemed to have executed good judgment to vacate, and there were no injuries!
Still wondering what “stuck” means — did the engine stall or did the undercarriage of the bus get snagged on the track crossing somehow?
Interesting in that, according to the MARTA report, the bus was headed into town and that direction has less of a hump than outbound. Since the bus route is a straight shot across the crossing, (http://www.itsmarta.com/BusSchedules_StreetMap.aspx?route=123) I’m not sure what happened.
Let’s say another 6 months goes by, another long vehicle gets stuck at a crossing here, and you’re a witness to it. Obviously you call DPD at 4/373/6551.
Then what? Is there a CSX number to call? Does DPD call CSX?
How long was bus stuck before the train came and was that long enough to relay a warning?
There is a CSX number posted at the crossing.
Why is the word stuck in quotes? Do they think she might’ve done this on purpose?
It’s probably because it’s not a fancy technical term.
…yup, as in “I’m in the right gear, there’s plenty of gas, I’m trying to move forward, the noise the bus is making doesn’t sound good, and I could try longer to figure this out or I could evacuate the bus and get everyone to safety.” I don’t know the technical term for that either. (I was thinking of using @#$%^ to tickle Deanne again but I didn’t want to suggest that the bus driver cursed.)
I think it’s OK to assume that the bus driver cursed when she got stuck with a thousand-something tons of train bearing down on her. If she didn’t, they definitely need to drug test her
If the bus really did bottom out on the crossing and become immovably wedged (i.e. “stuck”), then it seems to me that’s all the evidence needed to declare that the crossing is unsafe and needs to be modified to prevent this from happening again. After all, dozens of MARTA busses, school busses and other long vehicles pass through this crossing every day.
On the other hand, if that’s not what happened, then MARTA has some ‘splainin to do.
Yeah, but that’s the first incident of this type at that crossing in my memory and dozens of MARTA buses go over there every day. Remember, too, that school buses have a much higher clearance.
Was the bus route a straight shot over those tracks, or did it require a turn into it? If it turned and the turn wasn’t executed well then wheels could get off the side of the road which could increase the possibility of getting “stuck.” That would be user error. If it’s a straight shot and the ground really met the bus carriage, then that is no longer a good route.
I’m no expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
If you look at the map link I posted, the route is a straight shot up McDonough St over the tracks. No turn involved.
I’m interested in the clearance issue. I know that school busses have a much higher clearance (as you mentioned, Steve) but some of the Marta busses do look like they sag low to the ground. And if a tires was low, let’s say, I could see how it might get stuck on the hill of the crossing. It’s strange that it’s never happened before and certainly very disconcerting for future trips across on Marta.
Some MARTA buses look like they would indeed have a very difficult time getting across that hump.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Midtown_MARTA_Bus.jpg
http://nyctransitforums.com/forums/uploads/med_gallery_8314_5_1466967.jpg