Deadly Train, SUV Accident Outside NYC Kills 6 People

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Earlier this month, an accident in New York’s Westchester County involving an SUV and commuter train killed six people. During the evening commuting rush hour, a northbound Metro-North Railroad train hit a car stopped on the tracks at Commerce Street in Valhalla, which is about 28 miles north of midtown Manhattan.

The crash happened after the gates at the train crossing came down on top of a SUV stopped on the tracks. A Metro Transit Authority official said, “the driver got out to look at the rear of the vehicle, drove forward and was struck.” The train had been traveling 58 miles per hour when it saw the SUV and applied the emergency brake. The speed limit is 60 miles per hour.

The train, however, could not stop in time and crashed into the SUV. The train dragged the SUV about 900 feet before the SUV and the train came to a stop. The crash killed six people, including the driver of the SUV. The other fatalities were passengers on the train. At least a dozen other train passengers also suffered injuries.

NTSB Officials Investigate Accident

Following the accident, teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration National Transportation Safety Board were sent to investigate the accident. The investigators have been trying to determine why the accident occurred, and in particular, why the SUV stopped on the train tracks. Investigators were also trying to determine if a nearby traffic detour contributed to the accident, which killed 6 people and injured 15 passengers on the train.

According to officials, the train sounded its horn and the flashing lights and gates at the crossing functioned properly. Officials have been looking into data from the train’s recorder to understand the timing of traffic gates and signals and to determine the train’s speed. According to Robert Sumwalt, National Transportation Safety Board member, the goal is to construct “a timeline so we know exactly what happened and when.”

Injured in a Car Accident? Contact a Brooklyn Car Accident Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, an experienced Brooklyn auto accident attorney can help protect your rights. The Law Office of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum has extensive experience prosecuting all types of auto accident claims throughout New York and helping individuals recover compensation for their injuries.

Contact a Brooklyn auto accident attorney today for a consultation and case evaluation. Call us today at (718) 237-5586 or visit our office at 26 Court Street, Suite 1806 Brooklyn. Reaching out to an experienced car accident attorney is an important first step to make sure that you receive compensation for your injuries.