Police, Fire & Courts

Sheriff’s Office Takes Over Delray Beach Firetruck-Train Crash, Questions Emerge Over Employee Drivers’ Licenses

by
Daniel Nee
January 10, 2025

The scene of a colission involving a Brightline train and a Delray Beach Fire-Rescue truck, Dec. 28, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Delray Beach officials announced Thursday that the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office would take over the investigation of last month’s crash between a city firetruck and a Brightline high-speed train. Meanwhile, an elected official excoriated the city manager over revelations of employees driving city vehicles without valid drivers’ licenses.

The Dec. 28, 2024 crash injured 15 people on the Brightline train when it collided with a firetruck a block south of Atlantic Avenue. In video that emerged in the wake of the accident, a Delray Beach firetruck is seen attempting to weave its way past railroad gates which were still in the down position after a freight train passed. The gates did not open, however, because the Brightline passenger train was oncoming. The accident sliced the ladder truck in half, though the firefighters were able to escape in time.

The announcement that the sheriff’s office would take over the investigation came one day after Delray Beach Vice Mayor Juli Casale confirmed rumors that had circulated on social media that city employees have been operating vehicles without valid licenses. The drivers of the firetruck were not among them, however the investigation into the circumstances of the crash exposed the underlying issue. Casale accused City Manager Terrence Moore of hiding those findings from the governing body and the public.

“When I asked very specifically, ‘Can you tell me that this present moment that people were not driving our vehicles without a license?’ he could not tell me, Casale said. “I know there was a report given to the city, and I know you know how many people – and when – were not driving without a license in our fire department, and I know it’s quite a few. I am not happy with the fact that this city is withholding information from the commission.”

Moore said he could not provide a timeline as to when the investigation into the crash will be completed, but acknowledged that officials were aware employees in various department did not have valid drivers’ licenses while operating city vehicles.

“Other departments are involved in this matter because this is a citywide issue,” Moore admitted. “It is not contained to one department – it’s a citywide problem and I’ve always looked at it that way. We will have a cogent process and it will be responsive.”

“If you have firefighters in your department that are driving our vehicles without a valid driver’s license, residents deserve to know and we certainly deserve to know,” said Casale, to Moore. “How many? Five, seven, ten? I know the answer, but I want it from you.”

The city attorney later added that, to her knowledge, there were 10 employees whose drivers’ licenses were not valid.

The scene of a colission involving a Brightline train and a Delray Beach Fire-Rescue truck, Dec. 28, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Mayor Tom Carney urged officials to exercise caution while the investigation is ongoing.

“Piecemealing investigations is not usually productive,” he said. “Residents certainly deserve the complete story, and my understanding is that the fire chief is trying to get ahead of this. He’s doing a lot of stuff administratively and asking a lot of questions; he’s new on the job and I want to give him the opportunity to complete as thorough an investigation as he wants to have, and we all deserve that. I think it’s important we support the fire chief and his efforts to make sure all aspects of this incident are investigated.”

“I’m sorry, but at the end of the day, hundreds of people were on that train, including children who could have died,” Casale replied, adding that she sent Moore “seven e-mails” on the matter and did not receive a response.

Officials on Thursday said the sheriff’s office agreed to take on the investigation at the city’s request in order to leverage the resources of the larger agency and ensure transparency.

“Our Delray Beach investigators are highly skilled and were conducting a comprehensive examination of this incident,” said Police Chief Russ Mager, in a statement. “However, given the complexity of the crash, the multiple agencies involved, and the need for transparency, I requested the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office assume the lead investigative responsibility.”

Delray Beach police and Fire-Rescue, along with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, responded to multiple 911 calls reporting the crash, which occurred at about 10:45 a.m. Three firefighters—Driver Engineer David Wyatt, Captain Brian Fiorey, and Firefighter Joseph Fiumara III—were on the fire truck and were transported to Delray Medical Center as trauma alerts. Nine Brightline passengers were also transported to area hospitals.

According to officials, firefighters were driving to a reported high-rise structure fire at 365 SE 6th Avenue at 10:44 a.m. when, according to preliminary reports, the fire truck crossed the tracks while the crossing gates were down after a freight train cleared the intersection. A Brightline train, traveling northbound at approximately 79 m.p.h., then struck the rear of the fire truck.

Mager said PBSO’s investigation will be “impartial.”

“This decision ensures the most thorough and impartial review possible, leveraging PBSO’s expertise in major transportation incidents while eliminating any perception of internal influence,” he said. “Our commitment is to uncover the full scope of what occurred — fact by fact — so that we can provide the community with clear, accurate answers and uphold the highest standards of investigative integrity.”

Moore said an approximate timeline on the investigation would “come soon.”

“As we can provide information every step of the way … we’ll be forthcoming,” said Moore.