The Delray Beach Fire Department said Tuesday it was “fully cooperating” with an ongoing investigation after a Brightline train struck a fire truck Dec. 28 in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Fifteen people were injured in the accident, including three firefighters.
“This accident is a reminder that emergency responders must always carefully balance the inherent urgency of their work while ensuring the safety of our community remains our guiding principle,” Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin said in a statement Tuesday.
A Brightline train collides with a fire truck at East Atlantic Avenue and Southeast First Avenue in downtown Delray Beach, Florida, on December 28, 2024.
Sun Sentinel/TNS
Brightline had it previously posted footage on board It shows the fire truck navigating around the crossing arm before entering the tracks.
In a post on X on Saturday afternoon, the company shared an image of the video and wrote: “Railway safety is a community-wide effort. For everyone’s safety, never drive with crossing gates down.”
“We are grateful that there were no fatalities and remain committed to working diligently to implement improvements to prevent future incidents,” Martin said in a statement Tuesday.
After thanking the people who came to help the firefighters who were injured in the crash, Martin added, “As the fire chief, I am committed to making sure this event is a turning point, a time where we learn and grow.”
“The safety, well-being and trust of our community will be at the heart of every decision I make. Together, we will strengthen our commitment to excellence and ensure that incidents like this are avoided in the future,” the statement concluded.
Delray Beach police and Brighlin workers are seen at the scene of a wreck after a Brightline passenger train collided with a fire truck in Delray Beach, Fla., on Dec. 28, 2024.
Marco Bello/Reuters
According to Delray Beach Fire Rescue, the truck was on its way to a call at approximately 10:45 a.m. when the crash occurred.
The National Transportation Safety Board and local authorities are investigating the crash, but have not yet confirmed details about the exact cause.
