On This Day

Two Metro subway trains collide in Washington, D.C., killing 9 and injuring over 80

During the afternoon rush hour of June 22, 2009, a subway train wreck occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in Northeast Washington, D.C., United States.

During the afternoon rush hour of June 22, 2009, a subway train wreck occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in Northeast Washington, D.C., United States. A moving train collided with a train stopped ahead of it; the train operator along with eight passengers died, and 80 people were injured, making it the deadliest crash in the history of the Washington Metro.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found that after a June 17 replacement of a track circuit component at what became the crash site, the track circuit had been suffering from parasitic oscillations that left it unable to reliably report when that stretch of track was occupied by a train. The struck train came to a stop because of traffic ahead.

Historical Significance

During the afternoon rush hour of June 22, 2009, a subway train wreck occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in Northeast Washington, D.

Events Before

  1. A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

    A New Hampshire law legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples comes into effect

  2. Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "

    Australian pop diva Natalie Imbruglia (32) and "Silverchair" frontman Daniel Johns (28) announce their divorce stating "we have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together"

  3. "Breaking Bad," created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, premieres on AMC

    Breaking Bad is an American neo-Western crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC.

  4. Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decli

    Fears of a possible US recession cause a Black Monday for global stock markets, European stocks suffer their worst decline since 9/11, and Asian stocks drop as much as 15%

  5. Toshiba announces its formal recall of its HD DVD video format, ending the format war with Sony's Blu-ray Disc

    Toshiba Corporation (株式会社東芝, Kabushikigaisha Tōshiba; English: ) is a Japanese multinational electronics company headquartered in Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Events After

  1. New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cov

    New FINA rules re competition swimsuits come into effect; all body-length swimsuits banned; men's suits to maximally cover from the waist to knee, and women's from shoulder to knee; fabric must be a "textile" or woven material

  2. Earthquake devastates Haiti, killing an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people and destroying the majority of the capital P

    Earthquake devastates Haiti, killing an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people and destroying the majority of the capital Port-au-Prince

  3. "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis Hopper (73) divorces his fifth wife Victoria Duffy due to irreconcilable differen

    "Easy Rider" director and actor Dennis Hopper (73) divorces his fifth wife Victoria Duffy due to irreconcilable differences and out-of-control spending

  4. Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (46) divorces Lord of Tejada, Jaime de Marichalar (46) after 15 years of marriage

    Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (46) divorces Lord of Tejada, Jaime de Marichalar (46) after 15 years of marriage

  5. Alexandre Bilodeau wins the gold medal in the freestyle skiing men's moguls event, becoming the first Canadian to win go

    Alexandre Bilodeau wins the gold medal in the freestyle skiing men's moguls event, becoming the first Canadian to win gold during an Olympic Games hosted in Canada

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 22, 2009?
During the afternoon rush hour of June 22, 2009, a subway train wreck occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in Northeast Washington, D.C., United States. A moving train collided with a train stopped ahead of it; the train operator along with eight passengers died, and 80 people were injured, making it the deadliest crash in the history of the Washington Metro. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found that after a June 17 replacement of a track circuit component at what became the crash site, the track circuit had been suffering from parasitic oscillations that left it unable to reliably report when that stretch of track was occupied by a train.
Why is Two Metro subway trains collide in Washington, D.C., killing 9 and injuring o... significant?
During the afternoon rush hour of June 22, 2009, a subway train wreck occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in Northeast Washington, D.

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