A preliminary determination has been made to identify the cause of the Portland Streetcar collision on May 24, 2018. A screw in the assembly of the streetcar’s master controller—which allows the operator to control the streetcar’s speed—came loose and lodged in the handle mechanism, preventing the operator from stopping the vehicle.
The streetcar collided with two other vehicles at 1:10 p.m. on SE Grand Avenue at Taylor Street, resulting in a derailment and damage to one additional vehicle. One person was injured and transported to a hospital.
Portland Streetcar has developed a preventive maintenance plan to ensure regular inspection of the specific screw involved and has contacted the manufacturer of the master controller assembly for any additional guidance in maintaining the component.
Portland Streetcar continues to investigate the collision in partnership with TriMet and the Oregon Department of Transportation Rail and Public Transit Division. A full report will be made available upon conclusion of that investigation.
Source: Portland Streetcar