Metro commuters are riled up over the lack of information being released about Monday’s deadly smoke incident on the subway, and local lawmakers and emergency workers have been told to stay mum.
The National Transportation Safety Board, calling it protocol, has barred the release of information and has gone as far as calling at least one council member to remind them not to talk about the incident in which one women died and 80 people were hospitalized.
D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans, who sits on Metro’s board of directors, participated in a radio interview Tuesday about the incident and was quickly contacted and asked afterward not to speak on the investigation.
“He got a call after the interview saying board members, per NTSB law or regulations, are not supposed to talk about incidents under investigation,” said Tom Lipinsky, spokesman for the Ward 2 Democrat.
A press conference held Tuesday on the incident by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also lacked substantial details. Even basic information, such as the time the first emergency call was received by the District’s 911 call center or the time emergency responders arrived on the scene, remained a mystery as local officials spoke about the event Tuesday.
Passengers on the stopped train reportedly waited up to 40 minutes for first responders to reach their train and begin an evacuation. All the while, thick clouds of smoke filled the train and tunnel, making it difficult to breath or see.
Interim D.C. Fire Chief Eugene Jones said fire officials would begin a review of the department’s response to the emergency on Friday, but declined to provide further details on the investigation.
A spokesman for the NTSB said even the time line of the emergency response would fall into the category of details the agency doesn’t want local officials disclosing while the investigation is underway.
“They cannot speak on the investigation themselves,” said NTSB spokesman Terry Williams. “Anything else that occurred prior to the accident, they can discuss.”
NTSB investigators disclosed Monday night that the smoke started when something came into contact with the high-voltage third rail and caused an electrical arc. But little information beyond that has been released, and local lawmakers may have to wait until next week to learn more.
D.C. Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie, who oversees the council’s judiciary committee, said he has been promised an after-action report on the District agency responses by Ms. Bowser.
“I count myself as one of those people who would like to know a little more,” said Mr. McDuffie, Ward 5 Democrat. “What residents in the District and the region want is transparency. They want to know what exactly happened.”
Likewise, federal lawmakers are also hoping to learn more next week. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s nonvoting representative, said a regional member briefing with NTSB has been scheduled for Wednesday.
“I expect our NTSB briefing next Wednesday to provide the first guidance for remedial action,” Ms. Norton said.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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