BART police and Oakland Fire Department firefighters respond Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020 to Lake Merritt BART station in the 800 block of Madison Street in Oakland, Calif., for a medical emergency involving a person in a trackway. (Dylan Bouscher/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND — BART trains were single-tracking through Lake Merritt station Tuesday evening as firefighters, police officers and system staff responded to a medical emergency, authorities said.
Around 5:40 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of the emergency, possibly involving a person in the trackway, and officials quickly followed by closing the station just after 5:45 p.m.
As of 6 p.m., BART spokeswoman Anna Duckworth said a person was in a station trackway and talking and communicating with BART police. Duckworth said firefighters were able to rescue the person and take them to a hospital. That person’s condition was not available Tuesday night.
The station reopened shortly after 6:20 p.m.
The incident led to major delays in the system’s Richmond and Daly City directions. Mutual-aid bus service was set up using AC Transit’s Nos. 62 buses to the Fruitvale station and Nos. 18 and 96 buses to downtown Oakland.
There is a station closure and trains are not stopping at Lake Merritt due to a major medical emergency.
— SFBARTalert (@SFBARTalert) November 25, 2020
There is a station closure and trains are not stopping at Lake Merritt due to a major medical emergency. Parallel bus service is available via A/C Transit bus # 62, 18 & 96.
— SFBARTalert (@SFBARTalert) November 25, 2020
Lake Merritt has been reopened but trains are single-tracking through station. Expect residual delays. https://t.co/eEhPWCgSPX
— SFBART (@SFBART) November 25, 2020
Check back for updates. Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
