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Updated Jul 15, 2009 - 9:54 am

Sound Transit Light Rail train hits car

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 By JAMIE GRISWOLD
MyNorthwest.com

A Sound Transit light rail train running the new route down Martin Luther King Jr. Way was involved in an accident with a vehicle near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. and S. Myrtle St. on Monday.

The light rail cars are currently running test trips, before the route officialy opens July 18th.

There are several warning notice signs on the MLK route, alerting drivers to the current testing runs and encouraging safe driving when crossing the tracks.


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Comments (12)
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  • Madison2Seattle wrote...
    Lights not working?
    My husband drove by this accident just after it happened. He said that the traffic lights are supposed be timed just so to stop people from turning while the train is approaching - but that the trains are in testing phase and these lights aren't on. He is a trustworthy source but can anyone else confirm that they are operating the trains without the traffic signal lights that are supposed to prevent this sort of thing? I would be interested to know why they didn't bother turning on the signal lights if that is in fact the case. The news is reporting an illegal left turn - but if the lights were off how was the person to know that the turn was illegal? Anyone in the area know what is going on? How many people have to die before this gets straigened out!?
    June 29, 2009 6:48 pm
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  • drmerz wrote...
    What happened to the driver in the car?
    I saw the car on the news and it looked really bad. What happened to the driver? Let's hope that Sound Transit learns from this.
    June 29, 2009 7:10 pm
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  • kdub wrote...
    Look both ways before you cross !!
    This story makes me crazy, not because of the train but because of the driver that was not paying attention !! Its about time Seattle caught up with all the other large metro cities, in regards to transit options that dont sit in traffic like all the cars. We NEED a light-rail train in a major way and what is being done now is a great baby step towards the big picture. Look at Portland they have Max look at California they have Bart! What makes me crazy is this type of story is going to have people up in arms about the safety of the train and tracks !! Lets be responsible drivers and more alert drivers especially knowing that there our roads are changing and there is a new train,and maybe look both ways before we cross a train track, i don't care if its new or ancient track...look before you cross !! I do hope the people involved in the accident are ok
    June 29, 2009 7:20 pm
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  • Captain America wrote...
    drmerz : Maybe you have the lesson backwards...
    Let's hope DRIVERS learn from this. It has been said many times thes last two weeks, but it bears repeating: A Train Cannot Swerve To Avoid You. - - - - STAY OFF THE TRACKS!
    June 29, 2009 7:32 pm
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  • Moondoggie wrote...
    STAY OFF THE TRACKS ????
    Captain America. It is easy to stay off the tracks in the upscale parts of Seattle, because the Democrats that run this town dig tunnels for the good people of those neiborhoods. But for some reason the best place to put the trains in the poor part of town is RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
    June 29, 2009 10:20 pm
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  • Madison2Seattle wrote...
    WARNING SIGNS??
    What about the traffic lights? Were the lights working? My husband said the traffic signals weren't on when he went by after the accident - were they working when the accident happened? A sign? What is a sign going to do - make you wrench your neck 180 degrees to see if a train is coming? Yikes - that is not the typical direction to look in when turning left and would take some real getting used to.
    June 29, 2009 11:08 pm
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  • Dark Jedi wrote...
    When you put a train at street level
    This type of thing will happen. Sound Transit had better have a good legal fund when an Escalade hits the train on it's side. People will continue to hit these trains.
    June 29, 2009 11:10 pm
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  • Impression wrote...
    Above Ground
    Well, us taxpayers can only afford to have tracks above ground sir. I agree that drivers need to pay attention and I can only pray that no more of these accidents will come...right.
    June 29, 2009 11:12 pm
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  • Sportfisher wrote...
    Hope I find a new job
    That place is going to be a zoo. I dont iknow what politician thought that up, but its going to be a money loser.
    June 29, 2009 11:39 pm
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  • Angelique wrote...
    Lights work where legal to make left
    I have personally seen the lights that warn people of a train. They flash on and off and the light takes forever to change so you can make a left (where it is legal). There are some locations that you are not supposed to turn left. So in those locations, there would not be lights. Sorry for the accident, but sounds like someone not paying attention. I am looking forward to the light rail service.
    June 30, 2009 8:40 am
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