MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the accident that killed the operator of an NJ Transit light rail train.
The agency made the announcement in a late Monday post to X.com.
The operator was killed and more than 20 passengers were injured when a train on NJ Transit’s River Line struck a downed tree about 6 a.m. on Monday [see “Operator killed …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 14, 2024].
While NJ Transit originally said River Line service would remain suspended all day today between Florence and the Trenton Transit Center, full River Line operations between Trenton and Camden were restored by 3:20 p.m. ET, according to a post on X.com. A notice on the NJ Transit website says the service was restored “following a complete evaluation of the tracks in teh vicinity of Monday’s accident.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday on X.com that he had been briefed on the accident and that an investigation was underway, adding, “Our prayers are with all affected by this tragic incident.”
The name of the train operator has not yet been released by authorities, but a law firm has identified her as Jessica Haley, a 41-year-old mother of three, and says that Haley’s family plans to file suit over her death, WCAU-TV reports. A representative of the Philadelphia-based Anapol Weiss law firm has informed the state of New Jersey, NJ Transit, the Southern New Jersey Rail Group, Alstom Transportation, the Burlington County Board of Commissioners and Mansfield Township of the impending legal action.
— Updated at 11:55 a.m. CT with information on operator and planned lawsuit; updated at 7:25 p.m. CT with resumption of River Line service.
PRR/AMTK has that problem on the Phila. end of the Harrisburg Line, mostly used by SEPTA’s frequent commuter trains. The RR dates to the 1830’s and I don’t think there are any restrictions on tall trees on adjacent private property. The line is electrified. so if a tree falls it takes out the electric traction power.
The NJT River Line at that point also dates to the 1830’s (Camden and Amboy) and probably also has no restrictions on adjacent tall trees. The line is NOT electrified so there are no electric traction wires. (diesel-electric LRV’s). Perhaps warning wires along the ROW could be tied to the signal system to drop the signals to “occupied” where the tree broke the wire.
Must be one of those money grubbing law firms…running into blockages on a rail is just one of the hazards of the job. Might be a rare occurence, but it is still something you need to be cognizant of…I’m just wondering if the operator was paying attention to the right of way…
Now this is interesting. NJ does not normally allow someone to sue their employer and collect Workers Compensation. By filing the lawsuit the family thinks it might be better off trying for a big legal award or settlement then getting weekly WC survivor payments and what other benefits the spouse [if there is one] and/or children might get over the years. If its determined the downed tree was due to an “Act of God”, this might not turn out to be the best decision by the family.
Now this is interesting. NJ does not normally allow someone to sue their employer and collect Workers Compensation. By filing the lawsuit the family thinks it might be better off trying for a big legal award or settlement then getting weekly WC survivor payments and what other benefits the spouse [if there is one] and/or children might get over the years. If its determined the accident was due to an “Act of God”, this might not turn out to be the best decision by the family.
Trees can be cut down. I challenge anyone to find a tree standing within 30′ of the shoulder on any interstate roadway. I imagine the operator’s legal liability lies in failure to perform appropriate tree clearing.
Evaluations? Does that mean possibility of more trees falling on tracks?
As long as there is wind and gravity that is always a possibility.
Curiously, a 12 year old boy was killedby a fallng tree in an adjacent NJ County.
NJT resumed through light rail service around 4.00 PMTues. 10-15-2024.
The deceased train operator was a single mother of 3 children,