One person was killed and at least 23 were injured in a freak accident early Monday morning when a tree fell into the path of a commuter train in New Jersey, WPVI-TV reported.
The tragic incident occurred just after 6 a.m. in Mansfield Township when a tree fell onto the tracks of a New Jersey River Line Light Rail, striking the train as it sped southbound from Trenton. The train’s operator was killed, while nearly two dozen people were injured.
There were 42 customers aboard the train at the time of the incident. Twenty-three sustained non-life-threatening, “mostly minor” injuries and were treated, according to a statement from NJ Transit (via The Associated Press). Some were seen being removed from the scene on stretchers. The remaining 19 uninjured passengers were taken by bus to their final destination. The identity of the deceased train operator has not yet been made public.
New Jersey Transit Police are still working to determine how the tree fell onto the track. Footage taken from a news helicopter at the scene shows a large trunk under the light rail’s front wheels, the train’s windshield caved in, and the front of the vehicle largely destroyed. It's unclear if the tree hit the train directly or if it fell into its path as it traveled.
One neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, who spoke with WPVI said they had never seen anything like Monday’s accident. "We've never heard of an accident. We've been here for about 40 years and we never, never heard of an accident with the River Line," they said.
As of late Monday morning, River Line service was suspended in both directions and some local roads, such as Highway 130, have been blocked off amid the investigation. In a tweet, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he had been “briefed on the accident” and confirmed that “an investigation is underway.” “Our prayers are with all affected by this tragic incident,” Murphy concluded.
