One worker was killed and two others seriously injured when a welding accident happened just after midnight in Washington D.C. According to WJLA, the accident happened while five major railway stations were shut down in downtown Washington for major rebuilding.

A statement from Metro (the city’s train system) reported that a fire erupted and a loud noise was heard around midnight near heavy track equipment that was approximately 70 to 80 feet from where the workers were injured.

While the cause of the fire and noise hasn’t been determined, it is believed to be what caused a 40-foot section of rail to move, striking the three workers.

The fire was extinguished by workers at the scene. Two WMATA employees suffered serious injuries and were transported to  local hospitals. The third worker, a contract welder employee from Holland, Co., was fatally injured.

All Red Line track work was suspended after the accident and a “stand down” was ordered to brief workers, provide counseling, and reinstruct workers on safety protocol.

Metro’s Chief Safety Officer is leading the investigation. Ordinarily, the NTSB would also be investigating the incident too, but will not be sending investigators to the scene because of the federal government shutdown.

Transportation construction crews often work at night, when commuters aren’t depending on transportation to get them to and from their busy weekday lives. These nighttime construction projects carry their own unique set of risks. Construction work is inherently dangerous, but when darkness and potential fatigue is factored in, it becomes even more risky.

Companies who run construction crews have a responsibility to keep work sites as safe as possible. When they fail to do this, they can be held responsible for the consequences. This applies to both public employees and private contractors.

If you’ve been seriously injured in a construction accident, let the construction accident lawyers of Ginarte help.