HOUSTON -- A METRORail driver may have been responsible for a collision between a train and a cyclist, KPRC Local 2 reported.
A source close to the investigation said the on-board camera video was played at a high level post-incident meeting Monday afternoon. The source said the video showed the rail operator ran the light, while pedestrians in the crosswalk had a walk signal.
"Until we've come to a total conclusion on that, I'm not prepared to say what actually transpired," METRO Police Chief Tom Lambert said.
The cyclist was hit as she crossed the tracks on Fannin Street near Macgregor Drive shortly before 5 p.m. Friday.
Rail operators follow their own set of lights, which are white lines. Vertical means go and horizontal means stop.
The video showed the rail approaching the intersection with the light already horizontal. The cyclist was seen looking up at the train just before she disappeared under it. She was trapped until rescuers cut her bike apart.
Just after the collision, police said the 29-year-old physician riding her bike appeared to be at fault.
"We know that she was wearing headphones," Lambert said, "She was riding bike, not looking to what happened."
Lambert said Monday that he was no longer positive that the cyclist was at fault.
"Honestly, I don't know the answer to that," he said.
Rail passenger Tony MacGuyer said he always trusted the drivers to watch the signs, but he will be watching closer.
Passenger Shirley Pardo said she would not be surprised if the driver was at least partly at fault.
"Sometimes they're trying so hard to be on time they don't wait," Pardo said. "They're in a rush."
METRO has not released any information about the victim, who was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
METRO officials said the rail operator is still working, but did not say in what capacity.
The tape also called into question the speed that read out on the onboard computer.
METRO officials said the railcar was going 12 mph, but a source it appeared to have been going faster upon impact.
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