mainliner
03-20-2004, 02:40 AM
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2455093
March 18, 2004, 11:29AM
Pedestrian injured in light rail's path
His ambulance is then struck by car
By LUCAS WALL
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
A 59-year-old janitor missing a hearing aid darted into a MetroRail train Wednesday at Reliant Park, then the ambulance carrying him to the hospital was hit by a car one minute into the trip, injuring four more people.
Donnie Hall, who works for a temporary agency cleaning Reliant Stadium, was on his way home when he walked in front of the southbound train approaching the Reliant Park Station platform about 4 p.m., said Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Ken Connaughton.
Hall had apparently seen a northbound train at the station and hurried to get on board for his trip to his residence in the 3900 block of Main.
"He normally wears hearing aids in both ears, but three months ago he lost the one in his left ear," Connaughton said. "He heard the train (approaching from the left) but because he was hearing it in his right ear he didn't think he was in imminent danger."
Hall is the first pedestrian struck along the Main Street light rail line, though Metro trains have been involved in 25 collisions with vehicles since the Main Street line began full testing last fall. Passenger service started Jan. 1.
The transit authority is implementing several safety recommendations from a consultant's report last week on how to reduce the risk of cars crashing into trains.
Having suffered bruises to his left side, hand and arm after being grazed by the train, Hall was loaded into an ambulance for transport to Ben Taub Hospital.
Less than a mile from the scene, with lights and sirens activated, the ambulance was struck by a car at Fannin and Old Spanish Trail.
"It caught them in the right backhand corner of the ambulance," said Tommy Dowdy, a Houston Fire Department district chief.
Four people in the car did not appear to be seriously injured but were taken to the hospital for an examination. Hall and the paramedics weren't injured.
Dowdy added, "They loaded him into another ambulance and transported him" the rest of the way to the hospital, where he was treated and released.
Metro said the train driver could not have avoided hitting Hall, who was not cited but acknowledged his error.
"He told the officers he's been riding the train since it opened and he was upset at himself," Connaughton said.
At Fannin and Reliant Parkway, five Metro police officers wearing bright vests directed cars and people an hour after the first incident. MetroRail continued serving Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo events at Reliant Park from both directions but trains slowed about a block away and rolled in at a speed appearing to be slower than 10 mph.
MetroRail has been carrying thousands of people to the rodeo each day during the past two weeks.
Chronicle reporters Mike Glenn and La Monica Everett-Haynes contributed to this story.
March 18, 2004, 11:29AM
Pedestrian injured in light rail's path
His ambulance is then struck by car
By LUCAS WALL
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
A 59-year-old janitor missing a hearing aid darted into a MetroRail train Wednesday at Reliant Park, then the ambulance carrying him to the hospital was hit by a car one minute into the trip, injuring four more people.
Donnie Hall, who works for a temporary agency cleaning Reliant Stadium, was on his way home when he walked in front of the southbound train approaching the Reliant Park Station platform about 4 p.m., said Metropolitan Transit Authority spokesman Ken Connaughton.
Hall had apparently seen a northbound train at the station and hurried to get on board for his trip to his residence in the 3900 block of Main.
"He normally wears hearing aids in both ears, but three months ago he lost the one in his left ear," Connaughton said. "He heard the train (approaching from the left) but because he was hearing it in his right ear he didn't think he was in imminent danger."
Hall is the first pedestrian struck along the Main Street light rail line, though Metro trains have been involved in 25 collisions with vehicles since the Main Street line began full testing last fall. Passenger service started Jan. 1.
The transit authority is implementing several safety recommendations from a consultant's report last week on how to reduce the risk of cars crashing into trains.
Having suffered bruises to his left side, hand and arm after being grazed by the train, Hall was loaded into an ambulance for transport to Ben Taub Hospital.
Less than a mile from the scene, with lights and sirens activated, the ambulance was struck by a car at Fannin and Old Spanish Trail.
"It caught them in the right backhand corner of the ambulance," said Tommy Dowdy, a Houston Fire Department district chief.
Four people in the car did not appear to be seriously injured but were taken to the hospital for an examination. Hall and the paramedics weren't injured.
Dowdy added, "They loaded him into another ambulance and transported him" the rest of the way to the hospital, where he was treated and released.
Metro said the train driver could not have avoided hitting Hall, who was not cited but acknowledged his error.
"He told the officers he's been riding the train since it opened and he was upset at himself," Connaughton said.
At Fannin and Reliant Parkway, five Metro police officers wearing bright vests directed cars and people an hour after the first incident. MetroRail continued serving Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo events at Reliant Park from both directions but trains slowed about a block away and rolled in at a speed appearing to be slower than 10 mph.
MetroRail has been carrying thousands of people to the rodeo each day during the past two weeks.
Chronicle reporters Mike Glenn and La Monica Everett-Haynes contributed to this story.