FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A person was killed early Monday morning after being struck by a Brightline practice in Pompano Beach.
It occurred simply after 5:30 a.m. at N Dixie Highway and NW 6 Street.
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Brightline stated the gates have been down signaling an oncoming practice and the person drove round them.
Witnesses say the person was sitting in his truck on the practice tracks when he was hit.
“It split the car in half,” says a witness named Montez Lynette.
The man, who was recognized as 27-year-old Jacob Bresnahan, was rushed to the hospital the place he died, in line with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, which continues to be attempting to determine what occurred.
“You’ve gotta come to grips with the fact that you just cannot beat that train,” says Lynette.
The Brightline practice had entrance finish harm.
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It was a scary sight for witnesses.
“I’ll wait until there’s no train in sight before I go on the track because of Brightline,” stated Bob Liuzzo. “I like the Brightline, but it goes 50, 60 mph flying by!”
The larger velocity rail service stated it’s essential for drivers to recollect to not drive round gates within the down place, by no means try to beat a practice, and on energetic railroad tracks, trains can method from both route.
The northbound lanes of N Dixie Highway between NW 3 and 6 Streets have been closed for hours, however components have reopened.
This most up-to-date demise continues pattern that exhibits Brightline to have the worst fatality charge among the many nation’s roughly 800 railroads because it started check runs in mid-2017, in line with an Associated Press evaluation of Federal Railroad Administration information.
However, earlier deaths involving Brightline haven’t been blamed on its tools or crews. Investigations confirmed most victims have been both suicidal, intoxicated, mentally ailing or had gone round obstacles at an intersection in an try to beat the trains, which journey as much as 79 mph via densely populated areas between Miami and West Palm Beach.
Brightline has put in infrared detectors that may warn engineers if anybody is lurking close to the tracks to allow them to decelerate or cease. The firm has added extra fencing and landscaping to make observe entry tougher and can also be putting in red-light cameras at crossings that may permit police to ticket drivers who go round guardrails. It is testing drones to watch the tracks.
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While this crash continues to be underneath investigation, a spokesperson for Broward County Sheriff’s Office says, “It remains a good time to remind people to recognize these tracks are active. There are trains going both ways. Slow down, take your time, don’t try to beat the train or go around the gate.”