UPDATED: McLean Man Struck by Train at Clarendon Metro
Metro: Incident appears to have been intentional.
Update 11:38 p.m.
Metro has identified the man struck as a 39-year-old resident of McLean. He is in serious condition and suffered head injuries and multiple broken bones, according to an email from Metro spokesman Dan Stessel.
The injuries are considered potentially life threatening, Stessel said.
Update 7:46 p.m.
The Clarendon Metro station has reopened and Orange Line trains are running again.
Update 7:01 p.m.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel confirmed that the person struck was male, but said his office does not identify people when incidents such as this appear to be intentional.
Stessel said the man who was struck was conscious and talking while he was being rescued.
Update 6:50 p.m.
Passengers began filing out of the Clarendon Metro shortly before 6:30 p.m., many looking for a way to get home.
"It was just a shuddering halt as we approached Clarendon -- a 'thud,' " said one Clarendon man who asked not to be identified.
Several passengers complained about the heat inside the cars. Power was shut off while emergency crews worked.
"People stayed calm," said Joanna Falk of Manassas. "It got a little tense when they had to shut off the lights and air conditioning about an hour-and-a-half ago."
At least one passenger was treated for minor injuries.
Update 6:15 p.m.
Arlington Fire Department spokeman Gregg Karl said the person who was struck by a Metro train during rush hour Tuesday afternoon was freed from under the train and was transported to a local trauma center around 6 p.m.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said the cause of the incident appears to be intentional.
The Orange Line is expected to resume service soon, Stessel said.
Arlington County sent an email alert at 5:53 p.m. that said the station could be closed for several hours. A shuttle bus service is currently running between the Virginia Square and Courthouse Metro stations.
Original Post
Arlington police and fire responders are at the Clarendon Metro station following a report of someone being struck by a train.
Police Detective Crystal Nosal confirmed that the call came in shortly after 5 p.m.
The Arlington County Fire Department is in charge of the scene because it's considered a rescue operation, she said. Police are there to assist, she said.
Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said customers can expect significant delays. Orange line service has been suspended for an indefinite period of time between Rosslyn and Ballston. Several dozen shuttle buses are currently en route, Stessel said.
The Arlington Fire Department is currently working to free this person from the tracks. The victim is still alive, Stessel confirmed.
Lt. Gregg Karl, the fire department's spokesman, did not immediately have any further information when contacted by Patch.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
CJ
9:51 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
Passengers started fleeing BALLSTON (the station before on the New Carrollton side) BEFORE 6:00 P.M.--it was 5:00 p.m. because I was out there. It took me 3 HOURS to get home. They brought busses to BALLSTON to take us to ROSSLYN only to find that METRO without noticed CLOSED ROSSLYN!
At least the train conductor was kind enough to tell us (before she had to off load the train) that someone had been struck at Clarendon and that that they were single tracking up to FOGGY BOTTOM..which (to me) COMMON SENSE would tell METRO to get the busses brought in to get us AT LEAST to FOGGY BOTTOM where we have more options, more lines to connect to (can walk to red line at Farrugut North), can walk to Blue @ Farrugut West and catch dozesn of OTHER BUSSES NOT AFFECTED. IT WAS A MESS!