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Palm Beach Sheriff's Office now leading investigation into Delray Beach firetruck crash

The change is at the request of the Delray Beach police chief, citing the complexity of the case and the need for transparency

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is taking over a Brightline crash investigation involving a Delray Beach firetruck .

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By: Aja Dorsainvil , Christy Waite

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PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is taking over a Brightline crash investigation involving a Delray Beach firetruck.

The change is at the request of the Delray Beach police chief, citing the complexity of the case and the need for transparency.

The news comes as 911 calls from the crash were released.

"I'm on the Brightline train that was headed northbound to West Palm Beach and Orlando; we've just been in a crash," said one caller.

WPTV has been following this crash investigation closely since it happened, nearly two weeks ago.

Investigators said on Dec. 28 around 10:45 a.m. the firetruck crossed the tracks near the intersection of Southeast First Street, when it was struck by a Brightline train going 79 mph. The impact sliced the firetruck in half and injured 15 people, including three firefighters.

"I saw the fire truck wait for the freight train to go by," witness Christophe Lirola told WPTV investigative reporter Dave Bohman. "It started to try to get around the arms and eventually it was sliced in two by the Brightline."

Video recorded from aboard the train posted to Brightline's X account showed the moment just before the train collided with the fire truck.

WATCH: Witness describes seeing Delray Beach fire truck 'sliced in two' by Brightline train

Witness describes seeing fire truck 'sliced in two' by Brightline train

Two days after the crash, inspectors from the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida East Coast Railway said they were at the intersection to make sure the actual tracks were safe.

Since then, four Delray Beach Fire Rescue employees have been placed on paid administrative leave "pending the results of an internal administrative investigation."

In addition, WPTV has learned that the driver of the Delray Beach firetruck hit by the Brightline train had his license suspended in 2023 after failing to complete a driving school.

WPTV's related coverage on this crash investigation: