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Sons of Metro victim Carol Glover sue WMATA for $50 million Sons of Metro victim Carol Glover sue WMATA for $50 million
(35 minutes later)
The sons of Carol I. Glover, the Alexandria woman who died earlier this month after being trapped on a smoke-filled Metro train, on Friday filed a $50 million lawsuit against the transit agency, saying they hope no other passenger will ever have to suffer the same fate as their mother.The sons of Carol I. Glover, the Alexandria woman who died earlier this month after being trapped on a smoke-filled Metro train, on Friday filed a $50 million lawsuit against the transit agency, saying they hope no other passenger will ever have to suffer the same fate as their mother.
“We want to make sure that something like this never happens again,” said Marcus Glover, Carol Glover’s youngest son. “Though we are devastated, we are not bitter. We’re here for justice so that everyone who rides the Metro has the confidence they can get where they’re going safely.”“We want to make sure that something like this never happens again,” said Marcus Glover, Carol Glover’s youngest son. “Though we are devastated, we are not bitter. We’re here for justice so that everyone who rides the Metro has the confidence they can get where they’re going safely.”
Flanked by their lawyer, Patrick Regan, Marcus and Anthony Glover said that nothing they do will bring their mother back, but if her legacy can be a system that’s safer for all riders, that would offer them some comfort. Flanked by their lawyer, Patrick Regan, Marcus and Anthony Glover said that nothing they do will bring their mother back, but if her legacy can be a system that is safer for all riders, that would offer them some comfort.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel declined comment on the suit: “Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on active or pending litigation matters.”Metro spokesman Dan Stessel declined comment on the suit: “Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on active or pending litigation matters.”
Glover, 61, was on her way home from work Jan. 12 when the Yellow Line train she and hundreds of other passengers were aboard encountered heavy smoke in the tunnel just outside of L’Enfant Station and stopped. Minutes later, passengers said, the train’s cars began to fill with smoke. It took more than 35 minutes for emergency personnel to begin evacuating passengers from the stuck train, an effort that may have been hampered by difficulties with radio communications. Glover, 61, was on her way home from work Jan. 12 when the Yellow Line train she and hundreds of other passengers were aboard encountered heavy smoke in the tunnel just outside of L’Enfant Plaza station and stopped. Minutes later, passengers said, the train’s cars began to fill with smoke. It took more than 35 minutes for emergency personnel to begin evacuating passengers from the stuck train, an effort that may have been hampered by difficulties with radio communications.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. It has said in a preliminary report that an “electrical arcing incident” caused smoke to fill the tunnel. Members of the D.C.-area congressional delegation said they were told that intake fans on the train were not shut down and may have worsened the situation by pulling smoke into the cars as passengers waited to be rescued. Last week, Metro officials announced a series of interim steps they would take to enhance safety on the rail system, including allowing train operators to shut down the fans should a car encounter smoke. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident. It said in a preliminary report that an “electrical arcing incident” caused smoke to fill the tunnel. Members of the D.C.-area congressional delegation said they were told that intake fans on the train were not shut down and may have worsened the situation by pulling smoke into the cars as passengers waited to be rescued. Last week, Metro officials announced a series of interim steps to enhance safety on the rail system, including allowing train operators to shut down the fans should a car encounter smoke.
“All of us are at risk when Metro doesn’t follow simple safety rules,” Regan said. “Everything went wrong and it cost these two gentlemen their mother.”“All of us are at risk when Metro doesn’t follow simple safety rules,” Regan said. “Everything went wrong and it cost these two gentlemen their mother.”
Glover, a D.C. native, was the first Metrorail passenger to be killed in a Metro incident since the 2009 Red Line crash at Fort Totten. Nine people, including the train operator were killed in that earlier incident and scores of others were injured. Glover, a D.C. native, was the first Metrorail passenger to be killed in a Metro incident since the 2009 Red Line crash at Fort Totten. Nine people, including the train operator, were killed in that incident and scores were injured.
Passengers aboard the L’Enfant train described a chaotic scene, with the train operator running from the front to the back of the train in an attempt to move it back to the station. Passengers aboard the Yellow Line train on Jan. 12 described a chaotic scene, with the train operator running from the front to the back of the train in an attempt to move it back to the station.
Jonathan Rogers, a passenger who was riding in the same car as Glover, said he and others struggled to revive her after she began having difficulty breathing and fell to the floor. He and another man gave Glover CPR for more than 20 minutes but could not revive her. At one point, he said, another passenger scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the back of the train in the hope of finding help. Jonathan Rogers, a passenger who was riding in the same car as Glover, said he and others struggled to revive her after she began having difficulty breathing and fell to the floor. He and another man gave Glover CPR for more than 20 minutes. At one point, he said, another passenger scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the back of the train in the hope of finding help.
“As a direct and proximate result of Defendant WMATA’s negligence,” the 10-page lawsuit alleges, “Ms. Glover was trapped, helpless, in Train 302 for nearly forty-five minutes as it filled with smoke; during this time she fought, ever more agonizingly, to breathe as the smoke gradually sapped the life from her body.”“As a direct and proximate result of Defendant WMATA’s negligence,” the 10-page lawsuit alleges, “Ms. Glover was trapped, helpless, in Train 302 for nearly forty-five minutes as it filled with smoke; during this time she fought, ever more agonizingly, to breathe as the smoke gradually sapped the life from her body.”
Once they arrived on scene, emergency personnel attempted to revive Glover but she was later declared dead. According to the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Glover died of acute respiratory failure due to smoke exposure. The manner of her death was accidental.Once they arrived on scene, emergency personnel attempted to revive Glover but she was later declared dead. According to the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Glover died of acute respiratory failure due to smoke exposure. The manner of her death was accidental.
At a memorial service earlier this month, Glover was remembered for her vibrant personality and wide, infectious smile. Friends said she was the ultimate sports mom cheerleader for her two sons. The day of her death, she was on her way from a U.S. Department of Agriculture site near the waterfront, where she had been working as a contractor.At a memorial service earlier this month, Glover was remembered for her vibrant personality and wide, infectious smile. Friends said she was the ultimate sports mom cheerleader for her two sons. The day of her death, she was on her way from a U.S. Department of Agriculture site near the waterfront, where she had been working as a contractor.
The L’Enfant incident raised fresh doubts about Metro’s safety and maintenance procedures. The suit identifies 11 areas where it says believes Metro officials failed it customers. The L’Enfant Plaza incident raised fresh doubts about Metro’s safety and maintenance procedures. The suit identifies 11 areas where it says Metro officials failed it customers.
Members of the region’s congressional delegation, who were briefed last week on the incident, said they were troubled to learn that the railcar’s intake fans were not shut down and pulled smoke into the cars, making the situation worse for passengers. They also said they were concerned that more than a decade after the Sept. 11, 2001 the region’s emergency responders are still struggling to coordinate a unified response to an emergency situation that involves multiple agencies. Members of the region’s congressional delegation, who were briefed last week on the incident, said they were troubled to learn that the rail car’s intake fans were not shut down and pulled smoke into the cars, making the situation worse for passengers. They also were concerned that, more than a decade after Sept. 11, 2001, the region’s emergency responders are still struggling to coordinate a unified response to an emergency situation that involves multiple agencies.
Two early reports, one from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) office and a second from the District’s emergency management agency, identified breakdowns in radio communication between Metro and D.C. Fire and EMS. For instance, D.C. fire officials did not learn that there was a train full of passengers in the tunnel until they arrived at L’Enfant Plaza. Adding to the chaos, firefighters said they had to resort to cellphones and a chain of runners to relay information to the surface during the crisis because Metro’s radio systems were not working. But Metro officials blamed D.C. fire officials for failing to inform them that they had changed the way their radio signals operate. Two early reports, one from D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s (D) office and a second from the District’s emergency management agency, identified breakdowns in radio communication between Metro and D.C. Fire and EMS. For instance, D.C. Fire officials did not learn that there was a train full of passengers in the tunnel until they arrived at L’Enfant Plaza. Adding to the chaos, firefighters said they had to resort to cellphones and a chain of runners to relay information to the surface during the crisis because Metro’s radio systems were not working. Metro officials blamed D.C. fire officials for failing to inform them that they had changed the way their radio signals operate.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking member on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said he would call for hearings on matter. Similar hearings also were held following the 2009 Red Line crash. Rep. Elijah Cummings (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said he would call for hearings on matter. Similar hearings also were held following the 2009 Red Line crash.
At least two other suits have been filed against Metro and many more are expected. At least two other suits have been filed against Metro in connection with the Yellow Line incident and many more are expected.