Metro identifies man who died in rail work accident

WASHINGTON – Metro has identified the contractor who was killed in Sunday morning’s rail work accident.

Harold Ingram, 41, of New Jersey, was struck by a piece of rail and fatally injured. He worked for Holland Co., which provides welding services for railroads and transit systems.

At about 12:03 a.m. in a work zone on the outbound Red Line track between Union Station and Judiciary Square, Metro says a fire and loud noise occurred near heavy track equipment used to weld sections of rail together.

The fire and noise occurred about 70 to 80 feet away from three workers who were injured when the incident caused a 40-foot piece of rail to move and hit them.

Two Metro employees, one track worker and one supervisor, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening. Ingram was fatally injured.

It is unclear whether a fluid leak or another mechanical issue caused the fire and noise, Metro says. Workers used a handheld fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

No trains or passengers were near the area. Metro ordered a safety “stand down” to brief Red Line crews on what happened and to reinforce safety procedures, and normal rail service was expected Monday morning.

Metro is investigating the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

However, an NTSB spokesperson tells ABC7 that due to furloughs related to the government shutdown, the agency will not send investigators to the accident site.

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