Investigators said Friday that even though Metro officials started ventilating the tunnel 10 minutes after an electrical breaker tripped, it took 44 minutes to shut power to the affected rail, delaying the emergency response. One woman died and more than 80 people suffered from smoke inhalation.
Officers secure the entrance to L'Enfant Plaza Station in Washington, D.C.
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
In its preliminary report on the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board said the malfunction began at 3:06 p.m. when an electrical breaker tripped. But D.C. Metro didn't shut down power to the affected rail until 3:50 p.m., according to the Associated Press, which reported the findings.
Emergency responders have said they were delayed because Metro didn't say whether the electrified third rail had been shut down.
One woman was killed and more than 80 people were sickened by the billowing smoke when the train stopped in a tunnel near the L'Enfant Plaza station on Monday.
A smoke inhalation victim receives oxygen after smoke filled the L'Enfant Plaza station during the evening rush hour on Monday in Washington, D.C.
AFP / Getty Images PAUL J. RICHARDS
D.C. commuters will face delays Tuesday morning as some trains are still suspended following an electrical malfunction that filled a subway station with smoke on Monday.
All Yellow Line service will be replaced with additional Blue Line trains, until the Yellow line returns to regular service. Other trains will be delayed, according to the WMATA website.
