Several injured after Aurora light rail train derails
A RTD train in Aurora derailed on Sept. 21 leaving 24 people injured.
A Regional Transportation District light rail train derailed at Exposition Avenue and Sable Boulevard in Aurora on Wednesday afternoon.
Officials said 24 people were treated for injuries – three of them were transported to the hospital.
But while the damage appeared extensive, none of the injuries was life-threatening.
“They all walked off the train,” Aurora Fire Department spokesperson Sherri-Jo Stowell said.
Mike Kopp, a 55-year-old Aurora resident, had feared for the worst and assumed two trains collided, which was not the case.
“I worked in the area, so I walked around all the time,” he said. “It appeared as thought het eastbound and westbound trains crashed.”
“But I’ve never seen them cross (the rail),” he added.
Stowell said the incident commander ramped up the number of responders to take care of people. They included multiple ambulances and ladder trucks, a tech rescue team and specialized equipment to stabilize the train and ensure the incident did not cause electrical surges.
Officials estimate that it would take 12 hours to clear the wreckage, which means the intersection will likely remain closed until 6 a.m. Thursday.
Aurora Police said no vehicle was involved in the derailment.
The police first reported the crash on Twitter and reported “multiple injuries.”
“Shuttle buses will be replacing R Line due to the accident,” RTD tweeted.
“Trains will run between Lincoln Station to Florida Station and between Peoria Station and 13th Ave. Station while a Bus Bridge is being put into place.”
The R Line opened in 2017, and, in 2020, saw over one million riders, a drop from 1.9 million the year before.
This story is developing and will be updated throughout the evening.
Crews look over one section of a RTD light-rail train that derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Sept. 21, in Aurora.
An RTD light-rail train sits on the sidewalk and another section sits derailed on the tracks as crews work the scene at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Sept. 21, in Aurora.
Crews work the scene where a RTD light-rail train derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora, Colo.(TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE)
Crews work the scene where a RTD light-rail train derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora, Colo.(TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE)
Scores in the asphalt are visible as crews work the scene where a RTD light-rail train derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora, Colo.(TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE)
A damaged train crossing signal sits on the rails as crews work the scene where an RTD light rail train derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Sept. 21 in Aurora.
Crews look over one section of a RTD light-rail train that derailed at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora.
A RTD light-rail train sits on the sidewalk and another section sits derailed on the tracks as crews work the scene at the intersection of East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora, Colo.(TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE)
A window from a RTD light-rail train sits in the intersection after the train derailed at East Exposition Avenue and South Sable Boulevard on Wednesday, Sept. 21, in Aurora, Colo.(TIMOTHY HURST/THE DENVER GAZETTE)
An RTD train has derailed in Aurora.