Red Line Crash, June 22, 2009
WASHINGTON -- Public officials dedicated a plaque on Friday morning near the site of Metro's fatal 2009 Red Line train collision honoring the nine people who died in the transit agency's most deadly accident.
According to The Washington Post, the plaque lists those who died and an inscription that reads: "On behalf of the residents of the District of Columbia we will always remember those who perished June 22, 2009." Additionally:
The plaque, which is bronze with gold lettering, is also engraved with a quotation attributed to Pericles, an ancient Greek orator and statesman: “What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”
"They left us too soon, but we will forever remember what happened here," said Mayor Vincent Gray, according to a media release from his office.
Gray praised first responders: “Our public safety officials rescued, triaged, treated and transported the injured within the first two hours of the incident. They guided the public, calmed surviving victims and kept their families informed... In short, their heroism was on display that day, and I extend my thanks and appreciation for the professionalism and bravery they bring to their jobs every day.”
Gray was joined by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) and Deborah Hersman, who chairs the National Transportation Safety Board.
In addition to the plaque, a memorial park is being planned, too. Neighbors, however, have raised concerns that benches at the park will encourage public sexual activity.
As the Examiner reports, Friday marks the last day for those impacted by the crash to sue Metro and the equipment manufacturers blamed in the accident:
The District has a three-year statute of limitations that ends at the three-year anniversary. At least nine people have filed lawsuits in the past few months, court records show.
The crash occurred during the evening rush hour when one Shady Grove-bound train ran into another train ahead of it that was stopped on the track near the Fort Totten station. A federal investigation said that faulty track circuitry and a lax safety attitude at the transit agency led to the crash.
This post has been updated to add in comments from Mayor Gray