DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – The Delray Beach Fire Rescue driver-engineer who drove around lowered crossing gates and into the path of a Brightline train in December, causing a crash that injured more than a dozen people, has been fired.
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ABC affiliate WPBF reports that city officials announced the termination of Driver-Engineer David Wyatt on Thursday.
In a statement released to the station, Delray Beach City Manager Terrence R. Moore said the Dec. 28, 2024 crash, which injured 15 people, “was a moment that tested the integrity of our public safety systems and shook the confidence of the community we serve.”
“(W)hile I acknowledge that everyone is capable of making a mistake, this incident revealed a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment that went beyond an isolated error,” he said. “These actions—taken by an individual in a public safety position—placed lives at risk, compromised our operational readiness, and violated the principles of professionalism that our residents expect and deserve from public servants.
The station reports that a representative from the International Association of Fire Fighters union local that represents DBFR firefighters said Wyatt has “not received any official notice of termination” and said his due process has been violated.
“It is disheartening that the City considers it appropriate for employees, and their families, to learn about potential job actions through the media rather than through official channels,” a union statement read.
Several firefighters, including Wyatt, had been placed on leave in the wake of the wreck.