1 dead after Brightline train and Maserati collide

OAKLAND PARK – One person died after a Brightline passenger train and a car collided at a Florida East Coast railroad crossing in Oakland Park.

The collision happened shortly after 10:30 a.m. Thursday near Northeast 34th Street and North Dixie Highway, according to the Broward Sheriff ’s Office.

The Maserati was dragged several blocks north of where the impact happened until the train came to a stop a few dozen yards north of Northeast 38th Street.

The barely recognizable remains of the car were crushed under the front of the firescorched engine of the BrightBlue train.

For several hours after the crash, a southbound freight train sat parallel on the tracks next to the northbound Brightline train.

Rescue officials said it appears the Maserati driver went around the guard gates at the railroad crossing in an effort to beat the freight train and didn’t realize the Brightline train was approaching from the other direction, but the investigation was ongoing.

“The Maserati driver was the only person in the vehicle and was declared a fatality at the scene,” said David Rafter, spokesman for Oakland Park Fire Rescue.

“The conductor of the locomotive was transported by Oakland Park Fire Rescue in stable condition to a nearby hospital,” he added.

John Fish was working in the kitchen inside the nearby Funky Buddha brewery and restaurant when he heard the northbound Brightline train’s brakes screeching outside.

“I heard it, went outside, and it was basically coming to a stop,” he said. “I went to the glass door and saw flames. It was engulfed. There was black smoke.”

“There were flames going for at least 10 minutes and then the fire guys came,” he said. “Pretty quick.”

Because of the crash and investigation, local traffic in the area was being delayed and diverted.

The Brightline train system, currently rebranding itself as Virgin Trains USA, has stations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Along with Tri-Rail and freight trains, Brightline express passenger service has attracted its share of news coverage and regulatory scrutiny for the number of people killed and injured while walking, riding bicycles, or driving vehicles across the tracks.

WAYNE K. ROUSTAN/SUN SENTINEL PHOTOS A Brightline passenger train and a freight train were stopped at the Northeast 38th Street railroad crossing in Oakland Park for several hours after the Brightline train struck a Maserati, officials said.

The front of the train, recently rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, could be seen but the car was barely recognizable.