Second person killed by Brightline train in less than week

Man riding bike fatally struck in Boynton Beach

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. ā€“ A 51-year-old man was killed by a BrightlineĀ train Wednesday in BoyntonĀ Beach, police said.

It was the second time someone has been killed by a BrightlineĀ train in BoyntonĀ Beach in less than a week.

Jeffrey KingĀ was riding a bicycleĀ when he was struck by the train aboutĀ 4:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Ocean Avenue, BoyntonĀ Beach police spokeswoman Stephanie Slater said.Ā 

King rode around a safety gateĀ and crossed the tracks in an attempt to beat the train, SlaterĀ said.

AĀ representative forĀ BrightlineĀ said Wednesday that the company was cooperating with the investigation.

"Brightline continues to reinforce awareness and education," Brightline said in a statement. "It is critical that the public remains attentive when near any active railroad, always obey the laws and respect the safety devices that are in place to protect the public. Never try to beat a train."

According to its website, Brightline canceled several trains after the accident, but the company resumed service about 7 p.m.

Cindy SumlinĀ owns the East Ocean Cafe near the tracks where King died. She said that she surprised by how many people don't obey the signals.

ā€œIā€™m watching people as the barricades are coming down," Sumlin said. "I'm watching these people crossing because they think that they canĀ actually beat the train.ā€

On Friday, a BrightlineĀ train struck and killed Melissa Lavell, 32,Ā near Northeast Sixth Avenue and Boynton Beach Boulevard --Ā a day before the train line debuted its limited service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Like King,Ā LavellĀ went aroundĀ a safety gate and crossed the tracks as a train was coming, police said.

A woman was struck in July in Boca Raton in an apparent suicide, and another woman was killed in Deerfield Beach in November.

The train, which can travel at speeds up to 79 mph,Ā will begin service to Miami later this year.Ā The company plans to eventually connect its South Florida stopsĀ to Orlando.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, wrote to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Wednesday, requesting that the Department of Transportation investigate the Brightline accidents.

"In Florida, we have seen the challenges of addressing grade crossing safety, where according to 2016 data the state is in the top 10 for fatalities and collisions," Nelson said.Ā "Tragically, this trend is continuing with two recent fatalities in Boynton Beach involving the Brightline high-speed train."

Last year, state Sen.Ā Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne,Ā proposed theĀ Florida High-Speed Passenger Rail Safety ActĀ to address safety concerns about the BrightlineĀ service.

The bill would require thatĀ "certain railroad companies toĀ construct and maintain fences under certain circumstances." The bill is still being considered in the Florida Senate.

BrightlineĀ has said that itsĀ system meets orĀ exceeds Federal Railroad Administration and state guidelines.

However, BrightlineĀ has also said it is willing to work with municipalities on adding to fencing around tracks inĀ high-trafficĀ areas, citing its work with the cities ofĀ Delray Beach and Oakland.