Thursday, 4:30 PM
Commuters recount train accident in their own words
Complied by Globe Staff
Dillon Barfield of Uxbridge
"I was in the lead car that struck the truck, at the lead end, upper deck. The engineer called out "hang on" and immediately after there was a very hard impact, followed by windows breaking and the train car leaning over as if it would roll. Once it came to a stop there was a lot of people yelling, Myself and the others from that end of the car assisted people in getting out through a door at the lead end of the car. after that we just waited for help, which arrived very quickly."
Lynne Morse of Bellingham
"I got on at Forge Park station, and got on a middle car. We went about 3 minutes into the ride when we felt a big impact and the train stopped. It sounded and felt like we hit a car, but no one knew. We got off in a woodsy area and walked up to the little side street (I heard it was Foster St maybe) and waited on the side of the road while fire trucks, police and ambulances came. I saw some people crying and some limping but that's all. We never did see what we hit, but the first car of the train was derailed and tilted sideways, the rest of the cars felt slightly tipped. They had us walk to the end of the street and put us in school buses and brought us to Dean College station."
Ken Johnson of Bellingham
"We had just left the station about 2 minutes earlier. The train was not moving very fast along that stretch of track. I was reading my paper when there was a big jerk followed by someone yelling hold on about one second later. About a second after that there was a loud bang and we came to a stop. I was in the second cab, on the top level. I looked out the window and saw that we were at a crossing. The flat-bed truck driver was moving what remained of his truck. The passengers checked with each other to see if everyone was all right and then we were told to get off the train. There were EMT's from Franklin and Bellingham to help with anyone who wanted to get checked out. I was checked out by the EMT's as my back was hurting. After 45 mins, we were bused back to Forge Park."
Diane Field of Franklin
"I was on the top level, sitting near the back. All I remember is hearing someone yell WATCH OUT and hearing a bang. Then we slid off the tracks and slid for a minute or so. All I could hear was metal and screeching and a few people were screaming. Then the car started to tip, and it felt like the whole car was going to go over-this was the scariest moment. When we came to a stop, it was hard getting out b/c of the angle of the train and all the coffee that had spilled onto the ground. I was one of the first people out. The emergency crew was very fast and the people at Milford Hospital were so great."
Mike Buckley of Blackstone
"I was in the 4th/5th car from the front. We had just left Forge Park at 7:45. We rounded the corner just before the crossing, and there seemed to be sort of a noise, then the emergency brakes went on, followed by a very large crash. The power immediately was cut in the train, and where I was, mostly people were just shaken up. Some bags and loose objects were knocked from the seats.
I ventured down the stairs into the car vestibule and looked out the right side, I could not really see anything, as the train was rounding a bit of a bend to the left. However, when I looked out the left side, you could see up to the front of the train, and the first car was listing over to the left at about a 45 degree angle. Some passengers from the car in front of us helped us open the platform to allow passengers to climb down the stairs and exit on the left side of the car. We then walked down to the crossing and the Franklin PD moved us off the street into an adjacent parking lot. We soon were instructed to proceed up Forest Street to some waiting school busses that either were going back to Forge Park or on to the Norfolk Station.
The Franklin PD and Fire Departments should be commended for their professional and courteous actions this morning. Great job by them, as well as the MBCR conductors who were quick to offer assistance, kept us informed as to what was going on, and really did a great job.
Back at Forge Park, Franklin PD had took our personal information in case there were issues, and answered any of our questions.
A very scary sight there in the Franklin this morning, but top notch service from all of the agencies involved kept people calm, and over all did a GREAT job!!"
Paul Resten of Franklin
"We were traveling a few minutes out from Forge Park Station and we heard the emergency brake engage and the train try to slow. No more than 3-4 seconds later there was a very loud and large crash and the train came to an almost immediate stop. The lights went out and train tilted slightly to the left."
Resa Brandfonbrener of Berlin
"I was sitting in the second car of the train. After the train hit the truck, everyone in the car was checking to make sure everyone else was ok, then we all walked off onto Fisher St. Everyone stayed pretty calm, and the police and fire response was nearly immediate. I wasn't hurt, although I did end up wearing a good portion of the coffee I was drinking! I didn't see anyone that looked seriously injured, and everyone seemed to be taking it in stride."
Charlene of Milford
"We had no sooner left Forge Park and when all of a sudden the train slammed its breaks on and it felt like we hit something and came off the tracks at the same time. It was very scary. My coffee went flying and my bag that was on the floor slid down two seats in front of me. We got off the train and had to walk on the side of the train until we came to a side street. I must say it was very scary. What a Monday morning this turned out to be. It could have been a lot worse though. It seemed to be organized. There were buses at the scene after a while and they took us to the Dean College Station and we were able to get on a train to take us into Boston."
Tommy Waugh of Franklin
"I was in the third car from the front on the train. I could feel the emergency brakes come on and the train slow down. Then 10 seconds or so later a big jolt and the train stopped. I got up along with most of the other people. I noticed that the floor where the second and third cars connect was smashed together. Then I looked out the east side of the train and saw the trailer and road equipment that the train hit in the road. It had been pushed to the side of the road by the collision. I exited the train on the west side, then waited about five minutes with the other people as the train personnel and police who had arrived started to help the people out of the first car. Most people were calling others on their cell phones or using them to take pictures of the train. As the fire trucks arrived, I decided to walk west on Fisher St. to W. Central Ave. I then walked up to the Franklin/ Dean College train station where another train had been dispatched to make the rest of the commute into Boston. Several minutes later a bus showed up at the station with the people who had stayed at the scene."
Scott Bolser of Franklin
"I was on the 7:45 AM train out of Forge Park in Franklin in the 4th car from the front. As we were heading towards the Franklin/Dean College stop, the brakes were suddenly and sharply applied. About 2 seconds after the brakes were fully applied, we were all jerked back in our seats as we collided with the flatbed (which we didn't know at the time).
Thankfully it appears that no one was severely injured, but there were several individuals who looked very dazed and confused. As shown the in picture on Boston.com, the front car was lifted off the tracks. The police were very quick to respond as were the fire and medical personnel. School buses were sent to take the remaining passengers to other stops. Everyone on the scene was pretty orderly and the police directed us down the street to link up with the buses. A few individuals even picked up other passenger's belongings as they were exiting the train to give to their owners as we were standing around initially."
Heather Beard of Franklin
"I was in the third car from the front of the train. Soon after the train left the Forge Park station, we experienced a loud "jolt," and my lunch bag and my notebook fell from my seat. The train lights went off, and it was clear the train derailed. After a few moments, I checked to see that others around me were alright and I exited the train from the closest entrance. I walked away from the crash area. Luckily, my mother works nearby and she gave me a car ride back to the station. I drove into work. I left my notebook on the train, and I hope that I can retrieve it!"
