BOYNTON BEACH — The second death in less than a week involving a Brightline train drew a call for an investigation by Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson on Wednesday and a plea from U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, today to stop the new train service until “massive safety flaws” are addressed.
Mast, who opposed the rail line as a 2016 candidate for Congress, blasted Brightline on Twitter this morning.
“(S)top victim blaming and take responsibility for the fact that your trains are killing people. Trains should stop running until massive safety flaws are resolved,” Mast tweeted.
Nelson on Wednesday called on Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to investigate the deaths and review safety of railway crossings.
Brightline officially launched service between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
A woman was struck and killed by a Brightline train in Boynton Beach on Friday evening while Brightline was making a pre-opening run for reporters, politicians and other invited riders.