Fire and panic rode the rails as a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority train caught fire on Thursday morning, forcing about 200 people to evacuate.
One of those fleeing the smoke and flames as the train hurled over the Mystic River in Somerville jumped into the river.
One car of the train caught fire as it was approaching a station around 6:45 a.m., according to WFXT-TV.
John Gosselin got a bird’s eye view of the incident from a nearby hotel window.
“The train stopped and sparks starting coming out of the front, probably about three feet behind the driver,” Gosselin said. “I saw a flame and then I knew something was up. … It engulfed very, very quickly. The flames were shooting up. The smoke got very black.”
Breaking: Fire Crews on scene of Orange line train fire. #boston25 https://t.co/XvIFJB3dI1 pic.twitter.com/n5tcIlQA6e
— Ted Daniel (@tvnewzted) July 21, 2022
Passenger Jennifer Thomson-Sullivan, 42, recounted the moment when passengers started seeing flames leaping up past the windows, according to the Boston Globe.
“That’s when everyone started freaking out,” she said. “People rushed to the back of the car where I was sitting. There was a gentleman frantically trying to open the emergency exit. But the door would not open.”
She said the man then kicked out a window.
NEW: Video shows Orange Line riders jumping out of windows after a train car caught on fire over the Mystic River.
The MBTA says a person even jumped from the bridge into the water. They declined medical attention. pic.twitter.com/xTdSWFlP2L
— Rob Way (@RobWayTV) July 21, 2022
“From that point on, people started throwing themselves out the window,” she said. “They didn’t stop to consider the third rail or what if another train was coming in the other direction. … People just went for it.”
One went all the way down to the water.
“An unidentified female passenger jumped off the bridge into the river,” Somerville Fire Chief Charles Breen said. “Our marine boat happened to be in the river for training and was on scene immediately. The woman refused to get into the boat. She was provided a life jacket and proceeded to swim to shore. … Then she walked away.”
New video shows a person in the water after an Orange Line train broke down and started smoking over the Mystic River.
Riders had to climb off the train on to the tracks and walk back to the station. Witnesses say one person even jumped into the water. pic.twitter.com/Gvimj7krf9
— Rob Way (@RobWayTV) July 21, 2022
No injuries were reported.
According to an MBTA statement, “a section of the sheet metal, or side panel, on the vehicle, appears to have come in contact with the third rail, igniting material below the car.”
“With a more extensive inspection already underway, we will take every necessary step to prevent this from happening again. We understand that this and other recent incidents have tested our riders’ and the public’s trust. We remain committed to prioritizing safety and reliability to deliver the service our riders deserve,” the statement said.
MBTA general manager Steve Poftak said the train where the fire broke out had been inspected on June 23 and has been in service since 1980.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called the incident “more evidence of an aging transit system in crisis.”
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker called the fire a “colossal failure.”
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