Eleven passengers were evacuated and one person hospitalized after a Metrorail train derailed outside College Park on Saturday, officials said.
Emergency services responded to the 4900 block of Calvert Road just before noon, according to the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. In a preliminary investigation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said extreme heat resulted in a “rail heat kink that derailed the wheels of a 3000 series six-car train.”
“Crews will remove the train overnight to ensure the safety of our team and customers,” the post said, adding that speeds were reduced to 35 mph on aboveground tracks.
Three people were evaluated and one man was transported to a hospital, the fire department said. Another person refused transport.
Metrorail trains were delayed in both directions following the derailment. Trains were under speed restrictions throughout the day for heat-related inspections, according to the WMATA.
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for much of the state Saturday. The high temperature was expected to be 102 in the Baltimore area with a heat index of 111 degrees, weather service data shows.
This article has been updated.
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