Victims Suing D.C. Metro 1 Year After Deadly Smoke Incident

WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- One year ago, an electrical fire filled a D.C. Metro tunnel with smoke, killing one woman and injuring dozens.

Now, 87 victims have filed lawsuits against the transit system, claiming negligence caused the deadly incident.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the questions that remain.

Eighty-seven people -- 15 of them from Maryland -- say they want answers about how an incident like this could have happened.

Trapped inside a D.C. Metro train as it filled with smoke for 45 minutes. "Everybody was just in there coughing, choking," said Dennean Baker, passenger.

One year later, and victims say they still have questions about what happened.

"Where did all of this smoke come from? Why aren't they down here trying to rescue us?" said Baker.

Dozens were injured and 61-year-old Carol Glover died.

Jonathan Rogers desperately performed CPR to try and save her life.

"Just that feeling of helplessness and watching somebody suffer is going to stay with me forever," Rogers said.

Now Rogers is among 87 passengers who are suing Metro, claiming the transit system was negligent in maintenance, inspection and repairs.

"They caused this incident. They caused these injuries. This was a needless incident," said attorney Jerry Spitz.

Spitz says Metro refused to settle the claims outside of court.

Now his clients want answers.

"What caused the electrical fire? What caused the communication breakdown that obviously there was?" Spitz said.

The lawsuit doesn't name a monetary value. Attorneys say that's up to a jury.

Some victims say they have lasting health problems.

"There's asthma problems. There's sensitivity problems. There's also anxiety," Spitz said.

As for Dennean Baker, she's still haunted by one image.

"I just keep remembering the lady when they was carrying her over his shoulder through the train. That's all I keep seeing," Baker said.

Something she can never forget.

The Federal Transit Administration has now taken over safety oversight of D.C. Metro.

Metro officials say they've made significant safety improvements, including better coordination with first responders.