DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The city manager of Delray Beach, Fla., told the driver of a fire truck hit by a Brightline train in a letter that he was being terminated for actions that cost the city “millions of dollars” and led to serious injuries to other firefighters and the public.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported on the termination letter from City Manager Terrence Moore to firefighter David Wyatt in a paywalled article on Monday, April 14. It also reported details of the city’s investigation report that found Wyatt’s actions violated three city policies and two state traffic laws.
The collision in December 2024 led to the injuries for Wyatt, two other firefighters, and 12 people on board the train. Wyatt’s termination was announced by Moore last week. Wyatt remains on paid administrative leave while the disciplinary and termination process continues [see “Driver of fire truck struck …,” Trains News Wire, April 10, 2025].
Moore’s letter to Wyatt was dated April 10, the same day the city manager announced the 20-year member of the fire department would be fired. Moore said he had “no choice” but to fire Wyatt: “Your reckless actions have cost the taxpayers of Delray Beach millions of dollars. But, above all, your actions resulted in serious bodily injury to your colleagues and members of the public.”
The city’s investigation of the accident include a detailed timeline of events leading to the accident, which came when the truck with Moore and two other firefighters left the city’s Station 111 at 11:39 a.m. to respond to a report of a fire at a high-rise apartment building. The First Street grade crossing was blocked by a Florida East Coast Railway freight rain, so Moore moved into the westbound lanes to get around stopped traffic in the eastbound lane, intending to get around the other vehicles once the train passed.
However, Wyatt did not see the oncoming Brightline train as he drove around the still-lowered gates at 10:44 a.m., and was struck by the train, going 79 mph, and splitting the fire truck into three pieces [see “Fifteen injured in collision …,” News Wire, Dec. 29, 2024].
According to the Sun Sentinel article, the investigation report says the decision to drive in opposing traffic lanes at the crossing and to drive around the crossing gates “demonstrates [Wyatt’s] reckless disregard for the safety of life and property and a clear lapse in adherence to safety protocols and statutory requirements.”
