Lead car of BART train derails in Oakland; riders safely removed

The lead car of a BART train derailed between Lake Merritt and Oakland City Center/12th St. on Wednesday morning. Firefighters assisted BART personnel in getting the approximately 75 passengers safely off the train. Two people requested medical assistance.

The 5-car train was heading from Lake Merritt toward Oakland City Center/12th Street when a set of wheels derailed at around 10:24 a.m. There was no immediate indication of what caused the derailment. As with all such incidents, an investigation will follow.

The 12th Street station was closed for a time during the passenger evacuation but was reopened by around 11:30 a.m.