Three separate SEPTA incidents leave two dead, several injured
In addition to the people killed on the Media/Wawa and Norristown Regional Rail lines, wires fell on a D1 trolley near Scenic Road Station, injuring all aboard.
Two people were struck by SEPTA trains and a trolley was hit by overhead wires within the last 12 hours.
The three unrelated incidents killed two people and sent three to the hospital, while halting commutes around Philadelphia.
Person killed Wednesday night
Around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday on the Media/Wawa Line inbound to Center City, a train “struck a person in the track area between Morton and Secane Stations,” SEPTA spokesperson Kelly Greene said.
The person was pronounced dead at the scene. A shuttle bus took passengers to Center City. The line was back up and running Thursday morning.
‘Overhead wires’ stop trolley
About 7 a.m. Thursday, “overhead wires” fell on a D1 trolley, formerly known as Route 101, near Scenic Road Station, Greene said.
Three of the passengers were transported to Lankenau Hospital, she said.
In an update Thursday afternoon, SEPTA spokesperson John Golden explained that a tree had fallen on the overhead wires, causing them to fall. When the trolley came through, its arm apparatus got tangled in the wires, piercing the roof of the trolley. SEPTA initially said that all 10 passengers onboard reported injuries.
“None of the injuries were serious,” Golden said. “Most of the people were startled, if anything.”
Thursday afternoon, the trolleys were running, with some delays, Golden said. He encouraged travelers to check for alerts on the SEPTA website.
Second person struck
Greene confirmed that around 8 a.m. Thursday, an inbound Manayunk/Norristown Line train “struck a person at the Schoolhouse Lane grade crossing between East Falls and Wissahickon Stations.”
The Philadelphia Police Department said the man died at 8:39 a.m. after being transported to Temple University Hospital in “extremely critical condition.”
SEPTA said shuttle buses routed the roughly 300 passengers to Center City.
“Service is suspended on the Manayunk/Norristown Line until further notice,” Greene said.
Though these incidents are troubling, public transportation remains much safer than traveling by car, Golden said. Still, people need to be aware of their surroundings.
“When you’re near a train track, you need to be aware, a train could be coming at any time,” Golden said.