First Accident: Train Collision between Lenz and Midway:

The first collision took place between Lenz and Midway when one train
collided into the rear of another at 7:15 am. One hundred and eighty one (181) commuters were injured.

Preliminary Results of Investigation:
The preliminary investigation has revealed that at the root of this accident is signaling equipment failure. The signaling equipment was struck by lightning which resulted in a system malfunction. As a result the track circuit which relays the signal that authorizes train movement was mis-timing, and gave a green
signal to the second train when the first train had not cleared the section completely. This thus nullified the normal protection that requires any two trains to be separated by at least one red signal. We can state categorically that both train drivers followed their signals correctly. More detailed investigation is taking
place to determine whether there may have been human error on the part of other Metrorail maintenance personnel. Read more