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| NY train crash driver was 'in a daze' before crash | NY train crash driver was 'in a daze' before crash |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The driver of a New York commuter train that derailed, killing four, told officials he was in "a daze" moments before the crash, local media report. | |
| William Rockefeller, 43, "lost focus" but tried to apply the brakes when he noticed the train's high speed, law-enforcement sources told US media. | |
| The Metro-North train was travelling at nearly three times the speed limit on a bend when it jumped the tracks. | The Metro-North train was travelling at nearly three times the speed limit on a bend when it jumped the tracks. |
| Investigators caution it will take weeks to determine the crash's cause. | Investigators caution it will take weeks to determine the crash's cause. |
| Mr Rockefeller is "very traumatised" and had not slept in 24 hours, Anthony Bottalico, the general chairman of the drivers' labour union, said on Monday. | Mr Rockefeller is "very traumatised" and had not slept in 24 hours, Anthony Bottalico, the general chairman of the drivers' labour union, said on Monday. |
| "He's devastated by the loss of life, by the injuries to the passengers and his fellow crew members, and he's extremely upset about all of it," he said. | "He's devastated by the loss of life, by the injuries to the passengers and his fellow crew members, and he's extremely upset about all of it," he said. |
| Mr Rockefeller, who has never been disciplined for job performance as train driver, has retained a defence lawyer for his interviews with crash investigators, Mr Bottalico said. | |
| A spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the agency had begun interviewing the train driver on Monday but have postponed finishing it until Wednesday. | |
| 'Unjustifiable' speed | |
| National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member told reporters on Monday the train's data recorder had shown action had been taken to reduce the train's speed from 82mph (132 km/h) on a 30mph curve - but was done so far too late. | |
| Mr Weener said the train's throttle was reduced to idle six seconds before derailing and its brakes were activated five seconds before. | |
| Investigators were not aware of any problems with the brakes during the nine stops the train made before the derailment, he added. | |
| The train was heading to New York City's Grand Central station from Poughkeepsie, New York when it crashed 07:20 local time (12:20 GMT). | |
| Four people were killed and more than 60 injured as the train derailed and came to a stop a short distance from the Harlem River in New York's Bronx borough. | |
| As the investigation continues, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs Metro-North, to make sure all employees have safety briefings. | |
| Mr Cuomo also said officials at the agency must ensure the driver "is disciplined in an appropriate way". | |
| "There's such a gross deviation from the norm. That amount of speed is certainly unjustifiable." | |
| The speed limit for the straight-away north of the curve was 70mph. | |
| Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has asked the train service provide an action plan on safety following the accident. The commuter train runs lines to New York City in both states. | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Bottalico said he was confident the investigation would reveal there was no criminal intent. |