Increase in suicides adds to Metro's troubles

WASHINGTON -- Suicide isn't an easy topic to deal with. But when it happens -- like it has been -- on the Metro system, it affects more than one person.

The transit agency has experienced a rash of suicides recently -- incidents where people are intentionally putting themselves in front of oncoming trains.

So far in 2009, Metro says there have been eight incidents, six of them fatal.

In 2008, the agency reports there were five incidents, two of them fatal. And in 2007, there were six incidents, two of them fatal.

"Whenever an incident like this does occur, there are countless other victims as well -- including customers on our train platforms that see these incidents occur and our train operators," Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel says.

The most recent incident happened Sunday, when 19- year-old Joshua Fueston of Bellingham, Wash. jumped onto the tracks and was struck by a Red Line train at the Gallery Place Station.

As far as preventing these types of incidents, Metro admits there is little that can be done.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't just happen here. It happens at other transit systems across the county, Amtrak, freight railroads. It is something that occurs everywhere," Taubenkibel says.

Metro does say it will look at the incidents over the past year and see if there is a possible solution to the issue.

Metro offers train operators an employee assistance program to help them cope with the traumatic experience.

"Usually, the train operator is always forthcoming in seeking out employee assistance. And if for some reason they don't do that within the first 24 hours, usually the employee assistance personnel will actively seek them out to provide any guidance," Taubenkibel says.

"The time-frame is always different in terms of how long they may be out from work and when they can return because every situation is treated differently."

The recent string of suicides on Metro comes at a particularly bad time. The agency is dealing with the aftermath of the deadliest accident in its history. Nine people died and dozens others were injured during a June 22 crash on the Red Line.

Since then, three employees have also been killed while on the job including the train operator involved in the Red Line crash, and most recently a track-worker in Alexandria last week.

A subcontractor working for Metro was also electrocuted and killed last month in Northeast D.C.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)