The Metro Train Accident

Monday was a day of much anxiety, fear and suffering for Metro employees and their riders ["At Least 6 Killed in Red Line Crash," front page, June 23]. Amid the chaos there undoubtedly were many acts of heroism by Metro employees and emergency personnel at the accident scene. Less noticed were the acts of heroism by Metro employees and citizens who quietly helped to ease the confusion and uneasiness of others.

One such hero is Betenia Simpkins, a Metro bus driver on the H8 line. Amid the hundreds of stranded riders gathered at the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station, many folks like me gave up any hope of getting onto a shuttle bus and jumped onto the first regular route bus with available space. Ms. Simpkins met each of our bewildered faces and questions with a smile, reassuring support and clear directions. She gladly informed us how far she could take us to our destinations and to which bus route we would need to transfer. Her bus was packed and she was running behind schedule. She could have easily been annoyed with us interlopers; instead, she encouraged us to stay near the front of the bus so she could let us know when we were approaching our transfer stop.

Maybe Ms. Simpkins was just doing her job. But at a time of devastation and death for the Metro system she was a beacon of comfort and the epitome of great service. As I sat there, hungry and suffering from a splitting headache, I couldn't help but smile.

DANIEL J. ABRAHAMSON

Silver Spring

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"A train experiencing mechanical difficulties." That's what we Metro riders heard repeatedly Monday afternoon, as droning announcements explained what was going on at Fort Totten that was causing delays throughout the system. By Tuesday morning, the delays were blamed on a "situation." How about "fatal crash" or "tragic accident"? Until Metro officials can summon some candor, what chance is there that they will get to the bottom of what caused this tragedy and protect riders from a recurrence?

KEVIN McCORMALLY