WMAL News
Maria Leaf
The L’Enfant Plaza Metro station remains closed tonight, hours after thick smoke filled the station, and a 6-car yellow line train that had just departed. Metro General Manager Richard Sarles says a woman who went into distress on the train has now died. Right now, her name hasn’t been made public as next of kin is being notified.
Approximately 84 people have been transported to area hospitals and one firefighter has been injured, according to DC Fire and EMS. Over 200 people have been evaluated, they say.
Sarles says the cause of the smoke remains under investigation. It’s unknown when the L’Enfant Plaza station will re-open.
Metro Police will now lead the investigation due to the fact someone has died.
Some riders said they were stuck on the train for up to an hour. Sarles would not confirm that when asked, replying “This will all come out in the investigation as to what occurred”.
Sarles says he’s also not sure how many people were on the affected train, which was about 150 feet south of the L’Enfant Plaza station when the incident occurred.
“We are obviously very sorry about the delays caused to people, especially on the train who had to go through being evacuated, and to the family of the woman who died, it’s heartwrenching.”
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