Martinez Hopes Task Force Will Reduce Transit Crashes
Photo courtesy "atmtx" via FlickrCapital Metro says the cameras on board the MetroRail train that collided with a car Monday were not working. Investigators were hoping to use those images to figure out exactly what led up to the crash that killed 32-year-old Jeremy Barta and injured two children.
Capital Metro spokeswoman Erica McKewen says the cameras failed around 6:30 a.m. on Monday. The crash happened about an hour later. McKewen says Capital Metro is working with the manufacturer to figure out what went wrong.
Monday’s crash was the third fatal traffic incident involving Capital Metro this year. Two pedestrians were hit and killed by buses.
Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez has announced plans to create a Transit Safety Task Force, which he hopes will help to prevent fatalities like these.
Monday’s crash happened at a private rail crossing that was not equipped with a gate or flashing lights.
“We want the full array of recommendations and that does also include a conversation about private rail crossing and what we can do, if anything, at those crossings,” said Martinez.
Martinez plans to bring a resolution creating the task force before the Capital Metro Board of Directors later this month.
