Content warning: This story contains references to self-harm.
An individual survived after a train struck them at the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station Sunday afternoon, a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority spokesperson confirmed.
A WMATA spokesperson said a trespasser “intentionally” placed themselves on the Virginia-bound track at the Foggy Bottom station, and a train hit them when approaching the station. The spokesperson said the individual was able to get back onto the platform and authorities transported them to the hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The spokesperson said the Metro Transit Police Department and D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the incident. Several FEMS and MTPD cruisers were present at I Street outside the station.
Authorities allowed traffic to flow through I Street, though an MTPD cruiser blocked the driveway in front of GW Hospital. Authorities also allowed commuters to enter the Foggy Bottom station after transporting the victim to the hospital.
Several commuters from the train that struck the individual — which had been out of service — waited at the Foggy Bottom station while WMATA staff directed them and incoming commuters to use the opposite track due to the single tracking. National Guard personnel were present at the station as WMATA authorities examined the train.
Both FEMS and Metropolitan Police Department spokespeople deferred comment on the incident to WMATA. GW Hospital did not immediately return a request on whether the hospital treated the victim and the extent of their injuries.
The incident caused Metro delays on the orange, silver and blue lines. WMATA posted to X at 4:30 p.m. that customers would experience delays due to a trespasser struck by a train at the Foggy Bottom station. A separate post at 4:42 p.m. stated the silver line would only be operating between the Ashburn and Ballston stations due to the incident, and encouraged customers to transfer to the orange line to continue their trip.
The spokesperson said blue line trains between McPherson Square and Arlington National Cemetery stations and orange and silver line trains between McPherson Square and Clarendon stations were single-tracking while WMATA authorities examined the train that had struck the individual.
WMATA posted at 5:51 p.m. that trains were no longer single tracking, but customers may experience residual delays.
