A Brightline train smashed into a car in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, police say
A car on the railroad tracks was struck by a Brightline train on the southeast edge of Miami’s Wynwood area Thursday morning.
Around 8:30 a.m., a white Ford SUV was crossing the railroad tracks, on Northeast 20th Street near North Miami Avenue, when the crossing arms and signals activated and began to come down, Miami police said.
The driver, a woman in her late 20s, tried to reverse — but the crossing arms had already come down.
Two other people were also in the SUV, an elderly man in the front seat and an elderly woman in the back. Once the vehicle was stuck between the arms, the elderly woman got out.
The train struck the vehicle with the driver and front passenger still inside. Police and Miami Fire Rescue helped get the driver and elderly man out of the damaged car. Both were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center and are in stable condition.
There have been five reported fatalities involving Brightline since the express train returned to regular service in November after a 19-month pandemic hiatus. Most recently, a brother and sister were killed when they reportedly attempted to beat the train in Aventura. There have been additional, non-fatal collisions — including one on the day of the train’s relaunch November 10, 2021.
The Wynwood intersection reopened Thursday afternoon.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 10:19 AM.
