Dallas’ Trinity Railway Express Involved In Second Fatality In One Week

Dallas train accidents are not very common, especially on the Trinity Railway Express, but this week saw two different pedestrian fatalities by the same Dallas commuter train.

Eleven people have been killed by the Dallas TRE trains since the commuter rail began in 1996.
The most recent accident occurred at Market Center Boulevard near Harry Hines Boulevard at around 5:45 pm on Monday, February 15. Dallas Police say that 54-year-old Van Phan of Dallas walked in front of the train and was struck, even though the train’s conductor repeatedly blew his horn at the woman. She apparently walked into the side of the train. It is not clear why she did not see or hear the train – or even if the death was an accident. The train conductor told investigators that the woman was wearing a hood and could have been talking on a cell phone.
Less than a week before, a Dallas man, 52-year-old Steven Whitaker, was struck by a TRE train within 100 yards of the same area while he was attempting to cross the tracks. Dallas Police and the county medical examiner have determined that that Dallas train fatality was an accident.
Morgan Lyons, a spokesman for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, released a statement about both Dallas train accident deaths. He reiterated that all pedestrians should remain aware of their surroundings and be particularly aware of what is happening around them when crossing railroad tracks. He also warned Dallas residents never to walk under lowered railroad warning arms as this latest train accident victim had done.