D.C. METRO ACCIDENT, WHAT WENT AWRY?

The Washington D.C. fatal Metro-transit train accident was possibly a result of computer glitch which failed to halt the approaching train?

Presently available evidence suggests that effort were made by the operator to slow down the train before it crashed, jack-knifed and climbed unto the preceding train's cars. The emergency brakes' button was found pushed down as expected; as well as evidence of braking on the train's rotors, indicating it was likely that the operator tried but failed to slow it down?

At the time of the crash, the train was operating in automatic mode, controlled primarily by computer, with the operator merely opening and closing its doors and responding to emergencies, if any? So why did the computer go to sleep while on duty, causing such a catastrophic accident that has so far had claimed nine lives, including that of DC National Guard commander and his wife; while injuring more than 70 persons, in what is considered the deadliest accident in the 30-year history of the DC Metro? Or was this another case of the limitations of technology as opposed to humans?

Pictured right is the operator of the accident-triggering train, that rammed into the other trains' stopped cars, Jeanice McMillan, 42, of Springfield, Virginia who also died in the collision.

Metro General Manager John Catoe said that "there is no evidence whatsoever that this driver has done anything to cause this accident"? To which Icheoku retorts, could Mr Catoe have spoken too soon since records of possible distraction of the train-operator by texting or phone call, has not been conclusively excluded? Further such ill-advised statement supplies needed ammo to wrongful-death action lawyers, who will cleverly heap all blames for the accident on the DC Metro to up the ante? More-so since evidence equally exists that the operator tried, according to operating procedure, but could not stop the train? A case of a defective equipment provided to the deceased train operator to work with?

It will be recalled that this was not the first time that DC Metro's automated system has been questioned? In June 2005, it had a close call because of signal troubles in a tunnel under the Potomac River; when an alert conductor noticed he was getting too close to the train ahead of him even though the system indicated the track was clear and hit the emergency brake in time, to avoid a collision? Icheoku asks, was the operator of this fatal accident possibly distracted by texting or phone-call, that she realised too late the dysfunctional computer system; that although she managed to reach the button; but it was too little too late to avert the collision?

Also this was not the first time a DC Metro accident has resulted in some fatalities as three people died in January 13, 1982 when some of its cars derailed? Equally in November 2006, two Metro track workers were struck and killed by an out-of-service train? And another Metro worker was struck and killed in May 2006.

As the investigation into what caused the accident continues, Icheoku empathises with the families of the deceased, the surviving passengers, as well as the DC Metro itself; which will certainly be slammed with series of lawsuits? As hard as it may sound, the transportation authority will certainly part with some substantial sums of money in settlement claims and/or payment of damages!