Driver charged in light rail accident

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Norfolk Police were called to Brambleton Avenue and 2nd Street on Tuesday to respond to an accident involving a light rail train .

The call came in at 5:10 p.m. and according to police spokesman Chris Amos, the crash involved a light rail train versus a 1992 Ford van.

The driver of the van has been identified as 70-year-old Haywood Waller.

Waller was driving southbound on Second Street and was attempting to make a right turn onto Brambleton Avenue when his van struck a light rail train traveling westbound.

"You can do everything right in your car and it doesn't mean you not a safe driver so at these accidents happen and they will we're going to investigate them appropriately," said HRT CEO Philip Shucet.

Amos said the driver had no visible injuries, but was complaining of pain and was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

He was the only person in the van at the time of the collision.

City Spokesman Bob Batcher said, "Safety has been a huge concern on both the city and HRT because of the kind of history we've heard from other cities and that's why there's been an avid safety campaign."

There were no passengers on the light rail. The operator of the train was not hurt.

Waller has been charged with disregarding a traffic direction signal.

This is the second accident involving the light rail train. The first was a hit-and-run that happened in the same intersection .

A news release from HRT said in both cases, the train had the clear right to proceed, and the traffic signal system worked as intended.

The release said a solid red traffic light indicated that all traffic on 2nd street should stop. An illuminated bright red sign warned against turning across the tracks, providing yet more caution. The train also began sounding its horn 300 feet from the intersection.

 In both instances, automobile driver error was cited as the cause of the accident.

“Every sign, signal and warning is out there to help protect the public,” said Philip Shucet, president and CEO of HRT. “Safety is a shared responsibility. We’re prepared to do our part. But we have to rely on every driver, every pedestrian, and every bike rider to do their part as well.”

HRT officials said The Tide contains important features to make light rail travel a safe and pleasurable experience. Among them are:

· Train control and traffic control systems that communicate with each other in advance of train arrival at all downtown crossings and trigger important traffic signals, controls and warning signs
· Bright red warning signs that caution drivers downtown against improper turns over tracks
· Yellow speed humps on embedded track downtown that give a clear visual and perceptible sense of where cars should not travel
· Physical barriers such as bollards and fencing along downtown streets that limit improper left turns, U-turns and jay walking
· Over 100 signs downtown that caution pedestrians not to cross tracks at inappropriate locations
· In shared track locations, vertical posts and speed humps that mark vehicle travel lanes

The Tide is scheduled to open on Friday.