Her neighbors knew her as Janice, but Metro officials called her Jeanice E. McMillan. She’s now known as the 42-year-old operator whose aging rail car slammed into the back of a stopped train Monday on the Red Line.
The impact killed at least nine people, including McMillan. Authorities said more than 70 people were injured in the worst crash in Metro’s 33-year history.
McMillan’s son — home for the summer after finishing his freshmen year at college in Virginia — first heard the news of his mother’s death 7 p.m. Monday when a reporter called the Springfield apartment looking for details, neighbor Joanne Harrison said.
Harrison had rushed across the hall to McMillan’s apartment, knowing Jordan would be there alone and worrying about his mother.
“We knew it was a female operator,” Harrison said. “Jordan said he had called (McMillan’s) cell phone, but there was no answer.”
Harrison, McMillan and another neighbor, Alisha Anderson, were a tight-knit group on the fourth floor of the highrise at 6700 Metropolitan Center Drive.
Leeza Kanwal, who lived a few doors down from McMillan, recalled an incident in December when a man knocked on her door. He was wearing a mask and said trick or treat, Kanwal said. She was confused, and as she began to question him, McMillan rushed up behind and pulled the man back by his hair. Anderson and Harrison helped detain him until police arrived, Kanwal said.
“When Jeanice was out in the hall, I felt safe and would let my little girl out there,” Kanwal said.
Now, the trio of friends is broken.
“I just want to tell them all that Jeanice is sorry to be involved in this accident,” Harrison said, referring to the families of the riders who perished in Monday’s accident. “She would be broken hearted if it was her fault.” – Freeman Klopott
