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New York train crash: At least seven dead as commuter train hits car on tracks New York train crash: At least seven dead as Metro-North train hits car on tracks
(about 1 hour later)
Seven people were killed and a dozen injured when a crowded New York commuter train struck a car on the tracks during rush hour on Tuesday evening. Terrified passengers have told of the moment their crowded train hit a car on the tracks, causing a deadly explosion on New York’s Metro-North line.
The train hit the SUV as it was stalled on tracks near suburban White Plains, in Valhalla, sparking an explosion and a fire, officials said. Seven people died on Tuesday in the deadliest crash in the line’s history. A dozen commuters were injured and hundreds had to be evacuated from the wrecked train at 6.30pm.
Six people on the train died, as well as the driver of the Jeep Cherokee that was hit at about 6:30 pm, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news conference. He said he had visited what he said was a devastating scene. One passenger, 45-year-old Scott Miller, told the New York Times he was in the second carriage when he heard a bang and the smoking train screeched to a halt.
“This is a truly ugly and brutal sight,” he told reporters. “The third rail of the track came up from the explosion and went right through the (rail) car, it's a devastatingly ugly situation.” “People started screaming, ‘Run to the back of the train,’” he said.
The third rail, which carries 750 volts of direct current, tore through the floor of the first car of the train, charring the carriage and sending billows of smoke into the air. Damage to the other seven cars was minimal. “It was kind of crazy. You had firemen trying to bang open the doors. People were jumping out of the windows.”
“It's actually amazing that not more people were hurt on that train,” Cuomo said. The driver of the black Jeep Cherokee and six people on the train were killed in the crash near the suburb of White Plains.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino told reporters 12 people were injured, 10 of them seriously. Eleven of the injured were taken to Westchester Medical Center, he added. Andrew Cuomo, the Governor of New York, said the car was pushed 400 feet down the tracks before the blast blew the third rail, which carries 750 volts of electricity, into the front carriage charring everything inside.
Passengers described frightening scenes as the train was evacuated. “This is a truly ugly and brutal sight,” he added. “The third rail of the track came up from the explosion and went right through the car, it's a devastatingly ugly situation.
“It's actually amazing that not more people were hurt on that train.”
Of the 12 people injured, 10 were in a serious condition last night and two had non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said preliminary information showed that the car was on a railway crossing when the gates came down on top of it and it became stuck on the tracks.
The driver got out of the car, then got back and attempted to drive forward before it was hit by the commuter train from Manhattan to Wassaic.
“The smoke was orange coming off the train, it was still on fire at that point. The front car was billowing heavy smoke out of the windows and doors,” said Jared Woodard, an employee of BGC Financial in New York, who was on the train travelling home to Chappaqua.“The smoke was orange coming off the train, it was still on fire at that point. The front car was billowing heavy smoke out of the windows and doors,” said Jared Woodard, an employee of BGC Financial in New York, who was on the train travelling home to Chappaqua.
Hundreds of passengers from the eight-car train were taken to a rock-climbing gym for shelter, authorities said. The average number of passengers on the train is 650 on a line that carries commuters through affluent New York City suburbs such as Westchester County, one of the richest in the United States. Hundreds of passengers from the eight-car train, which carries 650 on average, were taken to a rock-climbing gym for shelter, authorities said.
Media reports said the driver of the car got out briefly to try to push it off the tracks, then got back in before it was hit by the train. Officials did not say why the car was stalled on the tracks. The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the tragedy and parts of the line are expected to be closed on Wednesday morning.
The train left Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan at 5:44 p.m. and was headed north to Wassaic in southeast New York state.
Parts of the train line would stay closed on Wednesday morning, said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which was arranging for shuttle buses to fill the gap and warned of crowds and delays for thousands of commuters.
The Harlem Line is part of the Metro-North Railroad commuter rail service, which runs five lines.
Other Metro-North trains have been involved in accidents in recent years.Other Metro-North trains have been involved in accidents in recent years.
One derailed near the northern edge of New York city on December 1, 2013, killing four and injuring 70. It was traveling nearly three times over the speed limit for the section of track where it crashed, investigators said. One derailed near the northern edge of New York city on 1 December 2013, killing four passengers and injuring 70. Investigations revealed that it had been travelling nearly three times over the speed limit for the section of track where it crashed.
Mr Astorino made a distinction between that crash, which was the result of a train employee error, and Tuesday's accident. But he said the latest incident was still under investigation. Authorities said there was no indication that the train driver was at fault in Tuesday’s collision.
Earlier in 2013 two Metro-North passenger trains collided between Fairfield and Bridgeport, Connecticut, injuring more than 70 people. Earlier in 2013, two Metro-North passenger trains collided between Fairfield and Bridgeport, Connecticut, injuring more than 70 people.
Additional reporting by ReutersAdditional reporting by Reuters