Photo: CBS 12
We have new details about a December crash involving a Delray Beach Fire truck and a Brightline train.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has released its final investigative report which notes that the driver of the fire engine, David Wyatt, was issued a noncriminal traffic citation. The investigation found he violated a Florida Statute Special Hazards, stating he did not use due care because he didn't see the oncoming Brightline train as he drove into its path. It found Brightline was not at fault.
The new documents from PBSO include the Delray Beach Police Department's investigative report which shows that the fire truck came upon the railroad tracks on Southeast First Street with its sirens and lights activated.
The gate arms were down as a freight train went through the intersection and then Wyatt started driving around the gates, not knowing that the Brightline train was coming from the north. The train engineer was able to slow it down, but not enough to avoid crashing into the fire engine, slicing it into three parts.
Nine people on the train were taken to the hospital and Wyatt, along with three other members of Delray Beach Fire Rescue, were placed on paid leave.