BREAKING: Passenger train collides with fire truck in Delray Beach, Florida, leaving multiple injured

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — AP reports that a high-speed passenger train collided with a fire truck in downtown Delray Beach on Saturday, injuring at least three firefighters and several passengers aboard the Brightline train. The crash occurred in a crowded area, with the force of the impact causing the fire truck to tip onto its side. The front of the train was heavily damaged about a block away from where the fire truck was stopped, with its ladder detached and scattered yards away in the grass.

According to Delray Beach Police Traffic Sgt. Matt Saraceni, three firefighters sustained injuries but were conscious when transported to a nearby hospital. Their exact condition remains unclear. Multiple passengers on the Brightline train also reported injuries, though authorities have confirmed that their injuries were minor.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation, and Sgt. Saraceni could not immediately comment on the fire truck's destination or the circumstances leading up to the incident. Brightline officials have yet to provide a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is gathering information regarding the crash but has not decided whether to conduct a formal investigation. This incident follows a series of earlier Brightline crashes, including two fatalities at the same crossing in early 2024, which are still under investigation by the NTSB.

Since its inception in July 2017, Brightline, the high-speed rail service, has had a troubling safety record, with over 100 fatalities involving its trains, primarily attributed to pedestrian accidents, suicides, and drivers bypassing crossing gates. However, Brightline has not been found at fault in these previous incidents.

This latest crash comes amidst growing concerns over railroad safety following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, which spilled toxic chemicals. While there have been calls for enhanced safety measures, significant changes to railroad operations have yet to be implemented.