A 69-year-old Sebastian man was hit and killed by a northbound Brightline train on June 4 while he was on the train tracks about a quarter mile north of Main Street, crossing at about 11:30 p.m.
Whether the man was hit while crossing or intentionally on the tracks remains under investigation, along with if there was any evidence of possible intoxication, said Sebastian Police Department Deputy Timothy Wood. The man’s identity had not been released as of June 6.
This is the fifth Brightline incident on the Treasure Coast this year and the second death, according to TCPalm’s Brightline train incident database.
Brightline train accidents: How many have there been on the Treasure Coast?
Since 2023, there have been 18 Brightline-related incidents on the Treasure Coast. Eight have been fatal, and six have resulted in injuries.
The first incident in the area this year happened Jan. 9 when a woman sustained severe arm injuries after being hit by a Brightline train. Here are the other incidents from this year:
How fast do Brightline trains go?
Brightline claims to be the fastest high-speed passenger rail system in Florida. According to a 2023 press release, Brightline trains travel at maximum speeds of 125 mph, which is more than 2 miles per minute.
In 2023, TCPalm conducted speed checks of Brightline trains passing through the Treasure Coast, using a radar gun, over several days in October. Here are the findings:
Brightline railroad crossing safety tips
Brightline provides railroad safety tips on its website.
Residents are urged to consider the “look, listen, live” approach when interacting with railroad crossings.
Look:
Listen:
Live:
Ashley Ferrer contributed to this report.
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X @gonthescene.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Here’s how many Brightline deaths and incidents have happened on Treasure Coast
Reporting by Gianna Montesano, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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