Video shows SEPTA trolley rolling into historic Philadelphia building, 3 people hurt
PHILADELPHIA - Another crash involving a SEPTA vehicle is under investigation in Philadelphia.
According to authorities, a SEPTA trolley crashed into a building in Southwest Philadelphia in the area of Cobbs Creek Parkway and Woodland Avenue on Thursday night.
Andrew Busch, the spokesperson for SEPTA, told reporters in a Friday press conference that the trolley was out of service, did not have an operator and was being fixed by a mechanic when it rolled down the roadway and struck an SUV before careening into the building.
Two people inside the SUV sustained minor injuries and a mechanic on the SEPTA trolley was injured, but the wounds are non-life-threatening, Busch said.
Delia King is now out of a home after surviving the trolley crashing into the first floor of her historic home.
"I heard the squealing. It was so fast. It was squealing. The impact was intense. The whole house just shook," King described the incident. "There's a trolley in my living room!"
SEPTA officials say the incident is still under investigation, in addition to other SEPTA crashes that took place in the last seven days.
On July 21, a crash involving two SEPTA buses left one person dead and more than a dozen people injured in Rhawnhurst. Days later, a SEPTA bus crashed into a pole in Fishtown. Authorities also say there were crashes involving SEPTA vehicles on Monday in the area of Lansdowne Avenue and Garrett Road and on Tuesday in the area of 15th and Walnut.
"For SEPTA these are very concerning, very serious incidents," Busch said. "It is our top priority to make sure we understand everything that happened with each of these incidents, so we're thoroughly investigating."
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According to Busch, SEPTA is working with unions that represent SEPTA employees, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration.
The building the vehicle crashed into was built in 1766, leaving the historic structure damaged.
SEPTA officials say they are considering adding additional safety personnel to specific shifts to respond quickly to emergencies.
In a statement, SEPTA's board said:
"SEPTA’s Board takes seriously its oversight role of the Authority. Collectively, we represent the interests of all SEPTA stakeholders, including the City of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, the state Legislature, and the governor.
The safety of customers and employees is our top priority, and we are extremely concerned and troubled by the series of recent accidents involving SEPTA buses and trolleys. We have been in close contact with SEPTA management, and we know that investigations are ongoing. We expect these inquiries to be swift and thorough so that any problems can be identified and resolved.
We know that incidents like these shake the public’s confidence in SEPTA. We have stressed to executive staff that they need to be transparent with the public about the findings of these investigations."