A person was hit by a Brightline train in Florida, which seems to have been a deliberate act. This marks the first fatality since the service extended to Orlando.
The incident happened near Fort Pierce, with the victim being a 25-year-old homeless individual. The train’s speed at the time is uncertain.
Brightline, a high-speed passenger train service, operates at varying speeds depending on the area, ranging from 79 mph in cities to 125 mph in rural parts of central Florida.
This unfortunate event occurred shortly before 9 a.m. during a northbound train’s journey to Orlando.
Since its establishment six years ago, Brightline has recorded a total of 99 deaths.
The service recently expanded to connect Miami and Orlando, but the launch was marred by another pedestrian accident involving a train transporting commuters from West Palm Beach to Miami.
Brightline trains have had the highest fatality rate in the U.S. for a while, with one death occurring approximately every 32,000 miles they travel.
This analysis, based on federal data since 2019, surpasses the rate of any other major railroad, which typically records a fatality every 130,000 miles.
The previous incidents have largely been attributed to factors beyond Brightline’s control, such as suicides, drivers disregarding crossing signals, or pedestrians crossing tracks recklessly.
The company has implemented safety measures, including the installation of cameras, improved crossing gates and barriers, and the display of suicide prevention hotline information. Brightline officials have not yet responded to inquiries regarding this recent incident.
