News Digest

NY commuter train slams into SUV, kills 7 in railroad’s deadliest crash

Six passengers aboard the Metro-North Railroad train and the driver of a Jeep Cherokee died in the crash Tuesday evening in Valhalla, N.Y., about 20 miles north of New York City. Twelve other passengers were injured and hundreds of passengers were sent scrambling for safety. Authorities said the impact of the crash was so forceful that the electrified third rail came up and pierced the train. Officials said crossing gates came down on top of the SUV at the crossing, which was stopped on the tracks. The driver got out to look at the rear of the car, then she got back in and drove forward and was struck by the train.

You have seven people who started out today to go about their business and aren’t going to be making it home tonight.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Aerial video of the scene showed the head car of the train in flames and at least one vehicle crushed beneath it. The northbound Metro-North Railroad train left Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan around 5:45 p.m. and struck the SUV about 45 minutes later. It was unclear how fast the train was going, but the maximum would be 60 mph, a railroad official said. The train shoved the SUV about 10 train car lengths. Smoke poured out of the scorched front rail car, its windows blackened.