14 DAY TRIAL // A commuter train derailed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Monday morning, injuring 32 people, recent reports say.
The incident occurred at 2:50 a.m. local time, at the end of the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line, at one of the busiest airports in US. The eight-car metro train went off the rails, crossed a platform and scaled an escalator at an underground station at the Chicago airport.
“The train actually climbed over the last stop, jumped up on the sidewalk and then went up the stairs and escalators,” Chicago Fire Department Commissioner Jose Santiago told NBC Chicago.
The train struck the escalators leading to the terminals at O'Hare International Airport.
Luckily, at that early hour in the morning, the underground Blue Line station wasn't too crowded with people. Had it occurred at a rush hour, when the station is packed with travelers, an enormous disaster could have happened.
Officials say that no one suffered serious injuries in the accident, as 12 of the victims were listed in fair condition at Resurrection Medical Center, while the remaining 20 were listed in good condition. All patients were adults and received treatment for neck and back pain, bumps and bruises.
Chicago Transportation Authority spokesman Brian Steele said it was too early to name an exact cause of the accident, but mentioned that authorities started an investigation, reviewing video footage and interviewing the driver and other members of the personnel. They are trying to determine whether faulty brakes, signals or human error is to blame for the crash.
“We will be looking at equipment. We will be looking at signals. We'll be looking at the human factor and any extenuating circumstances. But really at this point, it's far too soon to speculate,” he explained, according to Yahoo News.
However, investigators believe the train was going too fast as it was approaching the end-of-line station, and say that speed could have been a factor in this case.
The train operator suffered a leg injury in the derailment and has been released from the hospital. She is set to be interviewed by investigators today.
Authorities say that the driver may have nodded off moments before the crash. Chicago Transit Authority union president Robert Kelly said, “I can confirm that she was extremely tired. Indications are she might have dozed off.”
The airport station was closed and crews started work to remove the train and fix the escalator. It seems that workers had to cut the train apart and remove it in pieces. Meanwhile, transit buses were brought in to continue the service to the airport.