• U.S.

New York Train Collision Investigation ‘Will Take One Year’

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The New York passenger train that collided with a car Tuesday moved the vehicle 1,000 ft. and ripped up 400 ft. of rail, with a lethal inferno resulting from the car gasoline’s interaction with the electrified rail, government investigators said Wednesday. The incident is the worst in Metro-North Railroad’s history, killing six people and injuring a dozen in Westchester County.

According to officials at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the electrified rail pierced the car “behind and below the driver’s seat” and then plowed into the train. The rail cut up into 80-ft. pieces, at least one of which ripped through a second rail car, the New York Times reported.

Investigators are looking at why a car was on the tracks, why so many passengers died, and whether warning signals did not go off. Officials plan to scrutinize crossing arms and rail traffic and highway signals to analyze if warning alarms malfunctioned.

NTSB official Robert L. Sumwalt said that a complete investigation would take approximately a year, but examining the scene would be done within a week.

[NYT]

Witness the Aftermath of the New York Train Crash

A train fire after a Metro-North train struck a vehicle in Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015.
A fire broke out after a Metro-North train struck a vehicle in Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015.Justin Kaback(@bizzz23) via Instagram
A still image captured from WNBC-TV video shows first responders battling fire on a New York City -Metro-North train following an accident near Valhalla New York
A still image captured from WNBC-TV aerial video shows first responders battling a fire on a New York City Metro-North train following an accident near Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015. WNBC/Reuters
A still image captured from WNBC-TV video shows first responders battling fire on a New York City -Metro-North train following an accident near Valhalla New York
A still image captured from WNBC-TV aerial video shows first responders battling a fire on a New York City Metro-North train following an accident near Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015. WNBC/Reuters
Train Car Collision
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a Metro-North Railroad passenger train and vehicle accident in Valhalla, N.Y., Feb. 3, 2015. Seth Wenig—AP
Metro North Commuter Train Collides With Two Vehicles Killing 6
First responders work at the scene of a train accident on in Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015.Andrew Delaney—Getty Images
Carpio Sextuplets
Seven people were killed, around 12 injured in a Metro-North crash in Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015. Enid Alvarez—Xinhua/Sipa
Firefighters and Emergency workers stand near a burnt Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro North Railroad commuter train car near the town of Valhalla
Firefighters and Emergency workers stand near a burnt Metro North commuter train car near the town of Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015. Mike Segar—Reuters
New York Governor Cuomo pauses as he speaks at news conference near site where Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro North Railroad commuter train had hit car near town of Valhalla, New York
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pauses as he speaks holds a press conference near the site where a Metro North commuter train hit a car near Valhalla, N.Y. on Feb. 3, 2015.Mike Segar—Reuters

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