WILMINGTON, Mass. — Authorities are investigating a fatal train-car collision that occurred on January 21, 2022, at approximately 5:52 p.m. at the Middlesex Avenue crossing.
According to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, inbound Commuter Rail Train 218 collided with a vehicle that was crossing the tracks at that time. The driver, 68-year-old Roberta Sausville Devine, was pronounced dead shortly after the incident.
Witnesses reported that the train, which was not scheduled to stop at North Wilmington Station, struck the vehicle after the automated safety features failed to activate. Gates, bells, and lights at the crossing were not operational, allowing the car to enter the danger zone.
The investigation revealed that approximately an hour before the crash, a signal maintainer conducting a routine shunt test inadvertently disabled the safety system. The XP4ElectroLogIXS computer, responsible for activating safety measures at the crossing, was left in a mode that did not detect approaching trains.
Emergency responders from the Wilmington Fire Department attended the scene, and a criminal investigation was subsequently opened by the District Attorney's Office. Though interviews were conducted with the signal maintainer, no charges were filed.
Keolis, the company operating the commuter rail, acknowledged procedural failures, and despite initial claims of extensive training, internal communications revealed gaps in training concerning the XP4 system.
The MBTA stated it has made significant changes since the incident, prioritizing employee training and safety protocols. Keolis settled a civil suit filed by Devine's family, with the MBTA contributing $1.5 million to the settlement.
The investigation remains ongoing.