Incidents on the Pittsburgh Light Rail

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The official logo of the Pittsburgh Light Rail

Over the course of the years, there have been various incidents on the Pittsburgh Light Rail. While low in number compared to other public rail transit systems in the United States, there have still been many derailments and fatalities associated with this system. Pittsburgh Regional Transit (formerly known as Port Authority) has worked to keep these incidents low in volume.

Pre-Establishment of the Light Rail System

December 24, 1917

Aftermath of the accident. One train car can be seen on its side with significant damage.

On December 24, 1917, a speeding train lost control coming out of the Mount Washington Tunnel and flipped over onto the heavily-crowded Carson Street. Over twenty people lost their lives, and over 80 were injured in the accident. It was the first documented accident in the history of Pittsburgh's public rail transit, and the deadliest mass-transit incident in the city's history.

May 29, 1930

This image shows the path the train took during the crash. Pictured in the bottom right is Elizabeth Hartman, who was amongst one of the injured.

At 12:20 AM EDT on May 29, 1930, a train jumped the tracks at a junction on West Liberty Avenue and crashed sideways into a pole at the other side of the junction. The impact of the pole was at the train's center doors. The operator, 28-year-old A.J. Hogan, blamed a failure of a switch for the crash, claiming it was left open and he could not see in the dark. Even though Hogan applied the emergency brakes, the train still slid about 120 feet down the street into the pole. Nineteen passengers were injured in the accident, none critically. Due to an derailment in the train yard hours prior, all paths had to be re-routed, which may provide an explanation as to why the switch was not properly adjusted for the incoming train.

November 14, 1944

The collision is shown, with a police officer in front of it. One outbound train is seen telescoped onto another.

On November 14, 1944, two trains collided during thick fog near Munhall Junction. The outbound car, going towards Homestead, rear-ended a second car going towards East Liberty. The impact was vicious, and the Homestead car was launched on top of the East Liberty car following the impact, which was full of war workers. Five people were killed and another 35 were injured.

February 10, 1978

On February 10, 1978, a severe accident took place at Palm Garden station when a northbound 41-D bus and a southbound train crashed into each other along the newly-constructed South Busway, an exclusive right-of-way where trains and buses travel at the same time. It was suspected the crash happened due to a faulty switch along the rail line.

The two collided head-on, and the bus knocked down a telephone pole and landed on top of a parked car.

While the train was empty besides the operator, the bus was full with over fifty passengers. Four people were killed, including the bus driver, 55-year-old Anthony Petrusky, and three passengers sat at the front of the vehicle. Twenty-seven other passengers, as well as the train operator, were injured. The busway had opened just months prior, and concerns had been raised about having buses and trains on the same road.

September 12, 1980

On September 12, 1980, two trains collided near South Hills Junction. An outbound train started rocking off the tracks and fell into the path of an inbound train. The two sideswiped each other, and thus prevented either car from flipping onto its side. Four people were injured, all passengers of the outbound train.

June 26, 1986

On June 26, 1986, two trains collided head-on while traveling on West Carson Street. The trains were traveling at low speeds in opposite directions on a single-track area, and were going around a bend when the crash occurred. The operators of the trains could not see each other due to an obstruction in the bend, and crashed into each other. Fourteen people were injured, including both operators and 12 passengers.

October 28, 1987

Aftermath of the head-on collision into the railroad building

During the rush hour on October 28, 1987, a train lost control while entering Mount Washington Tunnel, and jumped the tracks after coming out of the other side. It went sideways and landed in Carson Street, nearly mirroring the tragic accident 70 years prior. The train sideswiped a bus and then crashed into the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad Station building. Thirty-three passengers were injured, along with 8 transit employees. The operator, John Stromple, is credited with saving many lives aboard his train. After losing control, he moved his passengers to the back of the car, to try and minimize injuries suffered.

After Establishment of the Light Rail System

November 9, 2012

Shortly after 9:00 PM EDT on Friday, November 9, 2012, a train derailed while traveling between Wood Street and Gateway stations. The underside of the wheels were severely damaged, as well as a switch in the tunnel. Three passengers were hurt with neck and back injuries, and all stations between Allegheny and Wood Street were closed for two days following the accident.

July 15, 2014

At 11:25 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, an inbound Red Line train collided with a car attempting to cross the tracks at Arlington station. The car was hit broadside by the front of the train, which knocked the car against a guardrail, trapping both occupants inside. One was injured and transported to the hospital. No one on the light rail was hurt. Witnesses to the accident said the warning lights of an oncoming train came on with no malfunction, and it was unknown why the car attempted to make the crossing. Minor closures were reported.

May 3, 2016

At 6:45 AM EDT on May 3, 2016, two passengers riding an inbound Blue Line train between Steel Plaza and First Avenue stations were injured after they both fell while riding the light rail. Both were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

November 8, 2017

At 9:20 AM EDT on Wednesday, November 8, 2017, a Red Line train crashed into the side of a pickup truck attempting to cross the tracks, while traveling between Dormont Junction and Potomac. The driver of the truck was injured and taken to the hospital. No one on the light rail was hurt. Minor service delays were reported.

November 23, 2019

In the early morning hours of November 23, 2019, 56-year-old Mark Stephan Setar was struck by a train at South Hills Village. His body was found on the tracks by a train operator around 6:00 AM local time, and investigators believe he had been hit by the previous train. Setar's death is the only fatality of the Pittsburgh Light Rail's modern system, and is the first and only death of the entire system since 1978.

October 5, 2022

At around 10:00 AM EDT on October 5, 2022, a Red Line train derailed near the abandoned Kelton station. There were delays until around 1:30 PM as the train was put back onto the tracks. No injuries were reported.

May 13, 2024

At around 4:00 PM EDT on May 13, 2024, an inbound two-car Red Line train derailed after traveling on the outbound tracks while entering Willow station. Though there were delays, no injuries were reported.

October 22, 2024

At around 9:00 AM EDT October 22, 2024, the power lines above the Silver Line tracks between Lytle and Washington Junction fell onto a northbound train right in front of the abandoned Center station, causing a fire to break out. The twenty-five passengers on board had to be evacuated, but no injuries were reported. The fire promptly put itself out relatively quickly, but the entirety of the Silver Line was shut down for some four hours following the incident.

External Links

Pittsburgh Light Rail Main Page

PRT Rail Improvement Project 2024

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