Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303533459 - Bombardier Transit System Corp.

Inspection Information - Office: Queens District Office

Investigation Summary

On September 27, 2002, Employee #1, a customer service agent, was conducting an acceleration test on a three-car air train between stations at an airport. Employee #1 was trying to determine if the rate-of-rise relays in the two stations were functional. Concrete blocks had been loaded onto the train to approximate the weight of a fourth car. Employee #1 was operating the train at between 55 mph and 58 mph when the train derailed and struck a concrete side wall. The concrete blocks flew around inside the train, striking and crushing Employee #1. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he died at 3:05 p.m. as a result of his injuries.

Keywords: DRIVER, COLLISION, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, TRAIN, RAILROAD