Train in automatic mode kills two track workers near Walnut Creek
S5 · 19 Oct 2013 · BART · Near Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Record
| Company | BART |
| Industry | Other |
| Type(s) | fatality |
| Date | 19 Oct 2013 (day precision) |
| Time of day | 13:44 |
| Location | Near Walnut Creek, CA, USA |
| Severity | (fatality or catastrophic loss) |
| Scale | 1 train / 2 fatalities |
| Confidence | high |
| Verified flag | Yes - independently re-checked against the cited source |
Summary
A BART train operating in automatic (computer-controlled) mode under a trainee operator struck and killed two track workers (a BART employee and a contractor) performing inspections; the operator hit the emergency stop but could not stop in time. NTSB found BART's 'simple approval' worker-protection protocol, lacking positive train control or redundant warning, was the probable cause.
Primary source
Publisher: NTSB · Retrieved: 2026-09-16
Supporting source rows (1)
| Date | Supporting source row | Publisher | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 2013 | Train in automatic mode kills two track workers near Walnut Creek | NTSB | NTSB |
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