A collision between a car and a train in North Miami on Wednesday afternoon has left one person seriously injured and airlifted to a trauma center, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred at roughly 4 p.m. near the 14100 block of Biscayne Boulevard, prompting a swift response by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
According to first responders, the individual sustained injuries severe enough to require helicopter transport to a nearby trauma facility. While officials have not confirmed that the train involved is operated by Brightline, visual footage from local news helicopters shows a passenger train idling near the crash site.
Video and images from the scene depict a heavily damaged car crumpled alongside the tracks. The dramatic aftermath underscores the real-world hazards that come with vehicular crossings of high-speed commuter rail lines.
This crash adds to a growing safety conversation around Brightline, which recent in-depth reporting by the Miami Herald and WLRN identified as having one of the highest fatality rates per mile of any passenger railroad in the U.S. Their investigation documented at least 182 fatalities connected with the service since it began operations.
Transportation experts and community advocates say this latest accident highlights ongoing risks at the many at-grade crossings along the Brightline corridor. As noted by WLRN and Herald reporters, many of these crossings lack sufficient safety barriers, and in some “quiet zones,” trains do not sound their horns — a policy that critics contend further increases danger.
In response to mounting public pressure, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently pledged to address Brightline’s safety record, declaring that “there have been way too many deaths.” Federal support is already materializing: in September 2025, $42 million in grants were announced to improve safety along the rail corridor.
Local residents and advocacy groups say that while funding is welcome, structural improvements — such as enhanced crossing gates, better fencing, and smarter monitoring systems — are urgently needed.
As for the injured driver in Wednesday’s crash, no further update has been released, and investigators are still working to determine exactly how the collision occurred. Meanwhile, the community is again left grappling with the tension between fast, modern rail travel and the everyday reality of sharing space with that system.
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