PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — At least seven people were taken to the hospital after a SEPTA Route 11 trolley collided with a CSX freight train Thursday morning in Darby, Delaware County. The SEPTA driver is among the injured.
First responders, including Darby firefighters and the Sharon Hill Police Department, were on the scene near the intersection of Sixth and Main streets, as disheveled passengers were being helped off the trolley. Video from NBC 10 showed the nose of the trolley beyond the railroad's safety gate. And the arm of the gate had come down on top of the trolley.
Delaware County Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce said, of the seven hurt in the accident, one was critical. He said no dangerous products were released from the train.
People who were on the trolley during the collision said they could see a slow-moving train on the tracks around 8:30 a.m. as they approached the railroad crossing. And then the trolley and the train made contact.
One of the SEPTA passengers, Jeremy Griffin, said he takes the Route 11 to get to work. He said he was in shock as he saw the accident unfold in slow motion.
"I guess we got caught up in the tracks somehow. We weren't able to back up, maybe? The point is that, like, the nose of the trolley hit the train as it was coming on," Griffin said.
"It was almost like a movie. I seen the train coming, and we were on the trolley just staying there on the tracks, and I'm like: Wow. Wow."
He said his first reaction after the collision was to see if anyone was hurt.
"The driver was unconscious. I was the first person that come up to the driver — like, "Wake up. Wake up" — you know. And then one person, they couldn't feel nothing, seemed like, from their waist down. Another person had blood coming from their lip. Another person — blood from their head," Griffin said.
Richard Baroth said he was picking up breakfast from a business near the site when the crash happened.
"The trolley didn't stop," he said.
Baroth said he was stunned to get a firsthand look at the crash as he was heading home.
"When I walked across the street, I couldn't believe it. The trolley's all smashed. The windshield's all busted out."
Traffic was backed up in all directions as drivers were directed around and away from the scene. SEPTA advised Route 11 riders to expect delays and said service on the route would operate with shuttle buses in both directions between Island and Woodland avenues and Darby Loop while the investigation continued.
(Image credit at top: Delaware County Emergency Services)
Stay with KYW Newsradio for more on this developing story.