Electrical Problem on Smoky DC Subway Lasted 44 Minutes

BY BEN NUCKOLS
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Investigators say an electrical malfunction that filled a Washington subway train with smoke continued for 44 minutes before the Metro transit agency shut off power to the affected rail.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the accident Friday. One woman was killed and more than 80 people were sickened by smoke when the train stopped in a tunnel near the L’Enfant Plaza station Monday afternoon.

The report says the malfunction began at 3:06 p.m. when an electrical breaker tripped. It says Metro started ventilating the tunnel 10 minutes later. But it says Metro didn’t shut down power to the affected rail until 3:50 p.m.

City officials have said the emergency response was delayed because Metro didn’t say whether the third rail had been shut down.