WASHINGTON — A tree branch that penetrated the cab windshield struck and killed the operator of a train on NJ Transit’s light rail River Line on Oct. 14, the National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary investigation report released today.
The incident occurred at about 6:02 a.m. when the southbound diesel-powered light rail vehicle struck a downed tree near Florence, N.J. Twenty-three of the 41 passengers on board were also injured [see “Operator killed …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 14, 2024]. The train was going 64 mph (track speed is 65 mph) when it rounded a curve in the dark and the tree was illuminated by the train’s headlights. The operator operated the track brakes and emergency brakes, and the train slowed for 430 feet before striking the tree. It came to a stop after another 880 feet.
The operator was later identified as Jessica Haley, a 41-year-old mother of three [see “NTSB to investigate fatal NJ Transit accident,” News Wire, Oct. 15, 2024].
NTSB investigators at the scene inspected the damaged light rail vehicle, reviewed NJ Transit operating procedures, and retrieved data from the LRV’s data record, as well as video from the forward-facing camera of another train that arrived shortly after the collision. The report says the ongoing investigation will focus on NJ Transit right-of-way maintenance and inspection, dispatcher reporting procedures, and the crashworthiness of the light rail vehicle.
— Updated Nov. 8 at 10:55 a.m. to correct train’s direction of travel.
