Metro North Train Accident Leaves At Least Six People Dead

A Metro-North train on the railroad’s Harlem line crashed into an SUV on the tracks in Valhalla, N.Y. the evening of Feb. 2 causing a fiery crash and explosion that killed at least six people, injured a dozen others and forced the evacuation of hundreds. According to a report in The New York Times, this is the deadliest train accident in Metro-North’s history. Officials say the train hit an SUV in the crossing at Commerce Street in Valhalla, N.Y. around 6:30 p.m. The car was stopped on the tracks and the crossing gates were down when it was hit by a train resulting in a fire that consumed the vehicle and the first car of the train.
The train then pushed the SUV about 400 feet and the explosion caused the third rail of the track to go through the first train car. The driver of the SUV and five people on the train sustained fatal injuries. Ten people were seriously injured and two others sustained injuries that were not life threatening. All of the injured victims were transported to area hospitals.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in this horrific crash. We wish everyone who was injured in this train accident the very best for a quick and full recovery.
Ongoing Investigation
Metro-North has been the subject of investigation and scrutiny after a series of crashes that killed six people in less than a year. This included a derailment in 2013 on the Hudson line that left four commuters dead in the Bronx. A report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) last year criticized Metro-North for its failure to have adequate safety procedures in place. We trust investigators will look into what caused this crash and also if the train could have stopped in time before the collision. It is important in these types of cases to examine if safety equipment and technology such as GPS assisted remote operation of the train would have helped prevent the deadly crash.
Protecting Victims’ Rights
This is obviously a heartbreaking time for grieving relatives and friends who have lost loved ones. Those who have been seriously injured in the crash are potentially looking at medical bills and having to take time off work to recover. In such cases, it would be in the best interests of injured victims and families of deceased victims to seek the counsel of an experienced New York personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled train accident cases. A knowledgeable lawyer can help them navigate the complex claims process, giving victims the time to recover and survivors to grieve.
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one as a result of a train accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled accident attorneys have a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. In one of our train accident cases, our client was awarded a $3,222,000 verdict.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: The New York Time