PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL FINAL ACCIDENT REPORT This report is for improving overall Metro System Safety. It is intended to be for confidential use only. This report is prepared based on the information available to the author at the time of the report. The findings, conclusions and opinions expressed herein are subject to change based upon further investigation and analysis. SUMMARY OF FACTS RELATED TO TRAIN #707, (LRV 303S-334N) AND A PEDESTRIAN ON A BICYCLE ACCIDENT, AT FANNIN STREET AND IH-610 GRADE CROSSING, RED LINE, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2017. DESCRIPTION OF OCCURRENCE On Sunday, February 05, 2017, at 6:00PM, Train #707 (LRV 303S-334N) was traveling northbound on Fannin Street (Track #1) approaching IH-610 eastbound feeder road. A cyclist entered the grade crossing riding the wrong direction heading westbound on the eastbound feeder road with no place to go because the Automatic Highway Grade Crossing bells and gate arms were already down for the northbound train. As Train 707 approached the grade crossing the cyclist turned back around to head eastbound at the grade crossing and was struck by the oncoming train. The cyclist was thrown from the bicycle and landed on Fannin Street. He was conscious and refused to be transported but EMS transported to him to Ben Taub hospital with unknown injuries. INJURIES No other injuries reported. FATALITIES The cyclist, Bilal Muslim, age 60, passed away from his injuries during surgery at Ben Taub Hospital. PROPERTY DAMAGE Train #707, (LRV 334) sustained minor damage to the front coupler skirt and right front head light on the B side of the LRV. Cost to repair - $657.82 STREET CHARACTERISTICS Fannin Street is a two-way street that runs north and south with two lanes for vehicular traffic. Parking is not allowed on either side of the street. There are two signalized pedestrian crosswalks at this location. The first one (where the accident occurred) is located on the south side of the eastbound feeder road and the second one is located on the north side of the westbound feeder road. A Hi-load detection system is in place on both feeder roads. IH-610 Freeway East Feeder Road is a one-way street that runs east across Fannin Street with three lanes for vehicular traffic. Parking is not allowed on the road. IH-610 Freeway West Feeder Road is a one-way street that runs west across Fannin Street with three lanes for vehicular traffic. Parking is not allowed on the road. Sketch included in attachment B. PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL FINAL ACCIDENT REPORT Fannin and IH-610 Red Line Train #707 and Pedestrian 2/5/2017 Page 2 TRACK CHARACTERISTICS The track at this area is protected by automatic grade crossing arms and warning devices. The track is level, tangent, located at grade and in an exclusive right-of-way with two tracks that run north and south. SPEED AND SIGNAL RESTRICTIONS Train movement through the intersection is governed by automatic grade crossing arms and warning devices. A Grade Crossing Indicator (GCI) is attached to a pole in advance of the crossing which indicates to the operator that the gate protection is down. The Maximum Authorized Speed (MAS) at this location is 40 MPH. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The temperature was approximately 72° Fahrenheit, and scattered clouds. CIRCUMSTANCES A post incident investigation was conducted with Operator #27137. The Operator stated in substance, but not verbatim that on Sunday February 05, 2017, at approximately 6:00PM, “I was going northbound when the bicyclist crossed the front on my train. I blew my horn and he turned back around in front of my train. I maxed braked and blew my horn but was unable to stop before hitting him”. Footage from the intersection camera showed the cyclist enter the grade crossing in a north west direction with gates and bells active headed into oncoming eastbound feeder road traffic. Video footage shows the cyclist turn back around in an eastbound direction and then being struck by the right front side of LRV # 334. After contact was made the cyclist was thrown onto the street approximately 36 feet from the point of contact. CAUSE The cause of the incident was due to the bicyclist entering the grade crossing at IH-610 eastbound feeder road disregarding the active Automatic Highway Grade Crossing (AHGC) warning devices. Also note that the cyclist attempted to travel west on the eastbound feeder road directly into oncoming traffic then suddenly turned back around headed east when he was struck by the oncoming train. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS None PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL FINAL ACCIDENT REPORT Fannin and IH-610 Red Line Train #707 and Pedestrian 2/5/2017 Page 3 DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING The operator of Train #707 was not drug tested due to the On Scene Coordinator totally discounting the Operators actions at the scene of the accident. ACTION TAKEN MPD, HPD and Harris County Sheriff’s Department established a perimeter around the scene and only authorized personnel were allowed access. Rail Service was suspended between Fannin South and Smith Lands stations during incident delay. Train #707 was off-loaded and the passengers on-board at the time were directed to alternate service. Train #707, LRV’s 303-334 were released out of service and were turned southbound after the accident scene was released. Rail Vehicle Maintenance performed an inspection and found no defects to the trains that would have contributed to the accident. RECOMMENDATIONS None. The LRV/Auto incident was ruled non-preventable by the Safety Department. The Train Operator was operating per METRO’s Rules and Procedures. PICTURES (next five pages) GCI Indicator PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL FINAL ACCIDENT REPORT Fannin and IH-610 Red Line Train #707 and Pedestrian 2/5/2017 Page 9 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATION/TESTING Video and data downloads were taken from LRV 334 showing that the Train Operator entered the grade crossing and intersection on a solid Grade Crossing Indicator (GCI) traveling at approximately 39 MPH. We estimated that contact was made at 34MPH. (attachment D, Pic. 1) Data downloads also indicated that the Operator was sounding the horn as the train was traveling through the gated grade crossing. (Attachment D) Operator #27137 started her career at METRO was hired as an LRT Operator August 11, 2014. She completed her Defensive Driving Course on August 18, 2014. She was certified on October 17, 2014 and was recertified after two years on January 22, 2016 (Attachment A). The work hours for Operator #27137 were reviewed; work related fatigue does not appear to be a contributing cause for this incident (attachment A). On February 5, 2017 Operator #27137 was working run #60326 (see attachment A) after reporting to the Station Office at 5:09PM. The accident occurred on the first trip of the assignment. This Operator regular days off are Friday/Saturday. She worked an extra 4.5 hours on the PM assignment 70394 on Friday February 3, 2017. The week prior to the accident the operator worked a total of 10.2 hours of overtime and was off on February 4, 2017. (Attachment A). There were no special instructions for the area of Fannin and IH-610 at the time of the incident (see Attachment C). The final investigation by System Safety revealed that Train #707 (LRV 334) last preventive maintenance inspection was performed on January 26, 2017. An inspection was completed following the incident which found that all components to LRV 334 were functioning properly at the time of the incident. (Attachment E) Maintenance histories for both LRVs were reviewed from their acceptance date by METRO up to the accident date. (Attachment E) Safety personnel performed a visual inspection of the signaling systems at this intersection that evening. Systems appeared to be working as intended. CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN No corrective action plan needed. Anthony Villarreal, Rail Safety Officer Investigated By Mohammed Boukhriss, Manager, Rail Safety Approved By PRIVILEGED & CONFIDENTIAL Final Accident Report ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION TRACKING MATRIX DATE 2/5/2017 SAFETY OFFICER Anthony Villarreal LOCATION Fannin and IH-610 gated grade crossing – Eastbound Feeder DEFICIENCY CORRECTIVE ACTION RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT CONTACT PERSON COST STATUS AND DATE VERIFICATION AND REMARKS