Lightning strike blamed for damage at Carrollton DART station

CARROLLTON, Texas - Commuters are still being forced to take a bus instead of a train because of a lightning strike near the Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Downtown Carrollton Station.

The strike happened just before midnight Wednesday as storms were moving through the area. DART said two trains and some electrical equipment was damaged. Crews have to move power lines to make repairs.

The transit agency provided shuttle buses for people going in both directions on the Green Line Thursday morning, but some complained it wasn't enough.

"It's a bunch of mess. I'm sorry to say they tried to do their bust but they did not," said Ericka Johnson.

The repairs are expected to continue throughout the day. All other rail lines are running on schedule, DART officials said.

The storm caused a few other headaches for early morning commuters.

High winds knocked down a large tree around 1 a.m. It blocked the entire northbound Stemmons Freeway frontage road at Wycliff Avenue, behind the Renaissance Hotel. Crews cleared it from the road about four hours later.

Crews also had to shut down lanes at Stemmons Freeway and Oak Lawn Avenue overnight because of high water. The lanes reopened after crews cleaned out a drain.