January 26, 2009 - Two Metro workers killed on Tuesday by a maintenance vehicle along a track on the metro's Rockville
red line station.
One worker died at the scene and the other on the way to a hospital, Metro officials said.
Both men were automatic train technicians and
the crash involved a large truck equipped to drive on the track when electricity is shut down.
Metro's spokesperson Jackie Jeter issued the following statement.
"Once again, it is my sad duty to offer the condolences of ATU Local 689 members to
the families of Jeffrey Garrard and Sung Oh, the two Automatic Train Control Technicians who lost their lives last night while
working on the Metrorail. Both men were longtime employees of Metro.
As I have done several times over the past year, I strongly urge the Authority to take the appropriate
actions to ensure the safety of workers and riders on the Metrorail. ATU Local 689 is cooperating with the Authority
and the NTSB in the investigation of this tragic accident.
The safety and security of all riders and workers are vital to the effective operation of the system.
We can only hope that no further accidents will result in the loss of life anywhere on the system."
Jeter will be available for comment at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday of this week at the Jackson Graham Building,
600 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, where she will be attending the Metro hearing on service cuts.
Metro is offering shuttle services while the scene is under investigation. The Shady Grove metro
station was previously shut down. Both lines have returned to normal service.
