DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The city of Delray Beach has dismissed the firefighter who was driving the fire truck struck by a Brightline train in December.
City Manager Terrence Moore announced the firing of firefighter David Wyatt in a press release today (April 10), WPBF-TV reports. Moore said the incident “revealed a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment that went beyond an isolated error.
“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.”
Fifteen people — Wyatt and two other firefighters, and 12 people on board the train — were injured in the Dec. 28 collision in downtown Delray Beach [see “Fifteen injured …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 28, 2024]. The fire truck, responding to a report of a fire in a high-rise apartment building, had been stopped at the First Street grade crossing by a Florida East Coast Railway freight train. When the freight train cleared the crossing, Wyatt drove the truck around the lowered crossing gates and was struck by the Brightline train approaching on the second main track.
“This is not a decision I take lightly,” Moore said. “However, when the conduct of employees fundamentally conflicts with our mission to protect life and property, termination is the appropriate course of action. Our residents must know that Delray Beach will always put public safety first and that we will act decisively when that standard is not met.”
Wyatt was one of four firefighters placed on administrative leave while the incident was investigated; no disciplinary action was taken against the other three at the conclusion of that investigation [see “Delray Beach investigation determines …,” News Wire, Feb. 26, 2025]. A separate investigation by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office led to Wyatt receiving a non-criminal citation for failing to exercise “due care” in the incident [see “Driver of fire truck cited …,” News Wire, Feb. 21, 2025].
The city said Wyatt has 10 working days to request a conference with Moore to discuss why he should not be terminated; in the interim, he remains on paid administrative leave, with his termination to become effective April 28.
the incident “revealed a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment that went beyond an isolated error.”
So, evidently, “a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment” is OK until he risks a catastrophe. He is probably some Delray Beach town father’s ne’er-do-well relative.
Who pays for all the damage?
If I were him, I would move away, too much publicity around his name now.
He got (or will get) exactly what he deserves, For a public safety employee to so brazenly ignore one of the most basic of driving rules – never go around lowered railroad crossing gates – especially when the way forward is blocked by traffic, is unconscionable at the maximum and highly stupid at the minimum. And the fact that the “the incident “revealed a pattern of carelessness and poor judgment that went beyond an isolated error,” shows that this fire fighter did not value his position or realize his public responsibility. As Forest Gump would say, “stupid is as stupid does…” and this, with his careless patterns , met that criteria in spades.