WMATA: We Don't Have to Help Metro Riders During Fire Emergencies

WASHINGTON, DC — Metro riders will undoubtedly be a bit uneasy after hearing that WMATA feels it has no need to provide its riders with any assistance or try to rescue them in the event of a fire. That's according to a court filing that claims the agency doesn't bear any responsibility for the 2015 death of Carol Glover at L'Enfant Plaza during a smoke-inhalation incident, according to multiple media reports.

Metro is trying to push blame for the incident onto the District, arguing that it "expressly denies" that it "owes a duty to WMATA’s passengers to assist, rescue and/or evacuate passengers on Metrorail trains in the event of a fire-emergency situation," according to the filing as reported in the press.

Instead, any responsibility Metro does have falls to the fire department, they argue. Indeed, the D.C. Fire Department "ignored" its obligations to respond to emergencies in the Metrorail system, the filing adds.

The 2015 incident happened on a Yellow Line train near L'Enfant Plaza. Smoke continued to build in the tunnel as passengers waited on the train for as long as 45 minutes for firefighters to arrive, resulting in the death of Glover.

More than 200 passengers were evaluated by emergency personnel after the incident, and dozens were hospitalized. The station was evacuated and closed.

Image via WMATA