DELRAY BEACH — Community members in Delray Beach aren’t the only ones who want answers after a Dec. 28 Brightline train collision with a city fire truck.
City officials want them, too.
“When we have something of this magnitude, it is really important about transparency,” Mayor Tom Carney said at Tuesday night’s commission meeting.
The crash in Delray Beach left three firefighters and 12 Brightline passengers injured. Assistant Chief Kevin Green, Division Chief Todd Lynch, Captain Brian Fiorey and Driver Engineer David Wyatt were subsequently placed on paid leave, according to a public announcement Jan. 3 from Delray Beach Fire Chief Ronald Martin.
A Delray Beach Fire-Rescue truck lies in ruins Saturday afternoon after a collision with a Brightline train.
Wyatt, Fiorey and firefighter Joseph Fiumara III were on the fire truck and were transported to Delray Medical Center as trauma alerts at the time of the crash, according to the Delray Beach Police Department. Wyatt was driving the fire truck at the time of the crash.
On Thursday, the Delray Beach Police Department requested the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office take over its investigation into the crash.
“Our Delray Beach investigators are highly skilled and were conducting a comprehensive examination of this incident,” Delray Beach Police Chief Russ Mager said. “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.
A Brightline passenger train sits near downtown Delray Beach on Saturday afternoon after colliding with a Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck.
“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. 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.”
Other investigations into the crash are being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue is conducting its own internal administrative investigations.
Were fire rescue drivers operating trucks without valid driver’s licenses?
During Tuesday’s meeting, the issue of fire truck drivers operating vehicles without valid driver’s licenses was a concern.
Juli Casale
“We have people in our fire department driving without a valid driver’s license, and we know that,” Vice Mayor Juli Casale said at Tuesday’s meeting, before probing City Manager Terrence Moore about his knowledge of fire rescue employees driving city-owned vehicles with suspended licenses while being employed by Delray Beach.
Moore, according to Casale, had received a report and knew how many people within the fire department had driven without a valid license, and when.
“I know it’s quite a few,” Casale said. “And I am not at all happy that the city is withholding information from the commission.”
Residents deserve to know how many firefighters have driven the city’s fire apparatuses without valid licenses, Casale said.
Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney
City Attorney Lynn Gelin said she believed the number of employees who have not had valid driver’s licenses at some point during their employment was 10. However, she was unsure if these were all members of the fire department.
Deputy Vice Mayor Rob Long said that, at the time of the Brightline accident, all officers in the city-owned ladder truck had active licenses.
“We’re going to get all of the answers,” Carney said. “We’re getting a lot of questions from a lot of people. I think the lack of information is feeding all kinds of rumor frenzies.”
Union not happy that names of those operating the fire truck were released
At the moment, there is no defined timeline of when those answers will come, Moore said. Residents can expect updates via Moore’s weekly reports or from public meetings.
“This is a citywide issue,” Moore said. “This is not pertaining to one department. It’s a citywide problem and I’ve always looked at it that way.”
Martin, the city’s fire chief, has received backlash from the union that represents Delray Beach firefighters for his move to release the names of the four employees placed on administrative leave after the crash.
Union leaders called Martin’s decision “reckless and irresponsible” in a Jan. 3 Facebook post.
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“Chief Martin’s decision to prematurely name individuals, without the conclusion of a thorough investigation, not only undermines fundamental principles of due process but signals a dangerous erosion in leadership and integrity,” the post stated. “In doing so, Chief Martin risks the creation of a culture of selfishness and skepticism at Delray Beach Fire Rescue, a Department that relies on unity and trust to function effectively during emergencies.”
Administrative leave with pay is a standard procedural action, not a disciplinary measure, according to the city. Per Florida Statute Chapter 119, an employee’s name, title and employment status are not confidential, and documents placing an employee on leave are not confidential or exempt.
In a written statement responding to the union’s Facebook post, Martin said he appreciated the union’s role in advocating for its members.
A Delray Beach Fire-Rescue ladder truck lies in ruins Saturday afternoon after a collision with a Brightline train in downtown Delray Beach.
“As Fire Chief, my priority remains ensuring the safety of our firefighters and the community while upholding the integrity of the Fire Rescue Department,” Martin said. “I want to assure all members of Delray Beach Fire Rescue and the public that this process will be conducted with fairness, professionalism, and respect that each employee deserves.
“My commitment to due process remains steadfast. My focus is on strengthening this department, supporting our firefighters, and ensuring that we continue to provide the highest level of service to the residents of Delray Beach.”
The ladder truck, purchased in 2009 for $921,705.65, was destroyed in the collision, according to the city. Replacing it will cost between $1.3 and $2.3 million.
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Delray Beach maintains a reserve fleet to ensure continued emergency service, and there will be no significant operational impact or loss of service from the incident, city officials said.
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Delray city officials want more answers from Brightline collision