Subject: Light-rail car, automobile collide; no injuries reported Date: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 6:00 PM Friends, The article below serves as a good reminder to all of us to be safe around the light rail. As you know, trains are testing along the 20-mile starter route throughout the day and night. With the trains now on the roads, it is important for drivers, bikers and pedestrians to be aware and take appropriate safety precautions. For more information on light rail safety, visit Friends of Transit on the web at www.friendsoftransit.org . Light-rail car, automobile collide; no injuries reported by Meghan Walsh and Najat Omar Dec. 2, 2008 12:14 PM The Arizona Republic A minor accident involving a Metro Light Rail car and sedan near 24th and Washington streets occurred Tuesday morning. The light rail car was heading west when it collided with an Oldsmobile Royale headed north around 10:30 a.m. The driver of the Oldsmobile, a 78-year-old woman, was shaken up but did not suffer injuries. She was not taken to the hospital. The light rail car sustained minor damages to the bumper but was intact with power. Sgt. Tommy Thompson with Phoenix Police said the accident appears to be the fault of the vehicle's driver. The investigation will be turned over to Phoenix Police Department Transit Bureau. Officials from Valley Metro, which oversees the Light Rail system, will conduct an internal investigation. Larry Engleman, the director of safety and security with Valley Metro said it was the first reported accident involving the light rail. "This breaks the ice," Engleman said. "We've been operating these trains for over a year now. They have thousands of miles on them. We are very pleased we have not had a collision up to this point, but we knew it was going to happen someday." Metro Light Rail is testing vehicles throughout Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe. They run at anytime of day or night with as many as two or three Metros connected. Each vehicle is 90 feet long and weighs more than 100,000 pounds. At any city street intersection the trains can only be traveling a maximum of 35 mph. The light rail is scheduled to open to the public on December 27th.