METRORail Involved In Accident During Shut Down

HOUSTON -- While part of the METRORail line was stopped by a power outage, a light-rail train running on the unaffected section was involved in an accident Monday afternoon, Local 2 reported.

Shortly before 11 a.m., a big rig accidentally hit overhead power lines at Loop 610 and Fannin, cutting off electricity for the METRORail line south of the Smith Lands Station, which runs from Fannin to Reliant Stadium.

METRO is providing passengers with shuttle bus service between the Smith Lands and Fannin South stations until the line is repaired, which is expected to take between six and 12 hours. As of 6:30 p.m., the repairs were still not finished.

METRORail service north of Smith Lands was not affected, according to authorities.

At 3:30 p.m., a METRORail train on that part of the line was involved in an accident on Main at Alabama.

The light-rail train was headed south when it was hit by a minivan, witnesses told police.

One person was treated for minor injuries.

It's the 85th accident involving METRORail since it began operating in November 2003.