Seven dead after New York commuter train hits vehicle

Seven people are dead after a crowded Metro-North commuter train hit a sport utility vehicle on the tracks north of White Plains, New York, Tuesday night, sparking a fire that gutted the lead car of the train, according to the MTA. Among the dead were six passengers on the train and the driver of the black Jeep Cherokee that was struck. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the gates came down on top of the vehicle 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.

I was trapped. You know there was people in front of me and behind me and I was trapped in the middle of a car and it was getting very hot. All the air was turned off so there was no circulation so it was definitely scary especially when people are walking by on the outside and they said, the train’s on fire, there’s a fire.

Justin Kaback, who was commuting home to Danbury, Connecticut.

Passengers were evacuated to the back of the Harlem Line train then were taken to a local rock-climbing gym for shelter, the Cliffs. Buses were en route there to get to them to Pleasantville, a spokesperson for the railroad said. Aerial video of the scene showed the head car of the train in flames and at least one vehicle crushed beneath it. The vehicle was struck at the Commerce St. grade crossing in Hawthorne. Harlem Line Service was temporarily suspended between North White Plains and Pleasantville, the railroad tweeted. More than 750 passengers were estimated to be on board.

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