[Scan-DC] More on the Metro tunnel incident

[Jeff Krauss]

Here's an NTSB report of a similar subway accident, in Chicago.
http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/RAR0702.pdf
The incident was a derailment and fire in a Chicago "L" subway.
The tunnel filled with smoke, but the power was taken down almost 
immediately, and the train driver led the passengers to an emergency exit.
According to the report, the incident occurred at 5:06pm and by 
5:19pm passengers were being evacuated from the subway.
There were no fatalities. Hospital records indicate that 6 passengers 
suffered serious injuries and 21 passengers sustained minor injuries 
as a result of
the post-derailment smoke and evacuation. The majority of injuries 
were due to smoke inhalation.

In contrast, in the WMATA incident the train driver tried to get his 
train to back up to the L'Enfant Plaza station.
He was heard on the PA asking WMATA employees on the train to call 
the station manager and ask for permission to back the train to the station.
He apparently did not ask that power be taken down, and of course 
made no attempt to lead passengers to an exit.
Not clear whether this was due to WMATA procedures or the judgement 
of the train driver.