Passengers aboard MBTA Orange Line train that caught fire claim injury, retain legal representation

BOSTON — Multiple passengers who were aboard the Orange Line train that burst into flames one week ago are claiming they were injured in their attempts to escape and have retained legal representation.

Morgan & Morgan, who call themselves America’s Largest Personal injury law firm, said they have been retained by “multiple people” who were passengers during the hectic incident on July 21.

“Based on initial reports, the emergency doors did not open, and there were no announcements about how passengers should proceed. We are investigating if there were certain safety measures that were not in a place that could have helped prevent the injuries our clients sustained in the panic. We will uncover the facts and hold those involved accountable for their potential actions or inactions,” said Morgan & Morgan attorneys in a statement on Thursday.

On the morning of July 21, the Orange Line train stopped on Dana Bridge, which runs over the Mystic River, and soon after passengers noticed smoke entering a car toward the front of the train. The fire caused panic on the train and forced hundreds of people to scramble for safety.

About 200 people were forced to evacuate the train, including a woman who jumped into the river and others who climbed through smashed windows.

Video shows MBTA passengers climbing out window of burning train (Courtesy Glen Grondin)

MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said that a metal sill broke off the lower section of the train and it made contact with the third rail, “causing an ignition.” He called this latest incident “incredibly frustrating.”

Poftak noted that the train in question was last inspected on June 23, 2022, and first put into service in 1980.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued a statement, saying, “This incident on the Orange Line is more evidence of an aging transit system in crisis.” She also vowed to work with the state to transform the “broken” transit agency.

In June, all new Red and Orange Line trains were pulled from service after an out-of-service car experienced a battery failure in the Wellington Yard.

The FTA said in a recent report that investigators found the MBTA to be short-staffed to the point where trains were not safe for riders.

Poftak said earlier this month that the agency is taking steps to alleviate staff shortages and to ensure better track conditions.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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