Early Monday morning, a tragic train accident in Mansfield Township, New Jersey, left one person dead and 16 others wounded.
The accident happened about 6 a.m. on the New Jersey River Line Light Rail track near US Route 130. The reports said the southbound train coming from Trenton hit a tree that had fallen onto the tracks just north of the Roebling Station.
The conductor operating the train was killed in the accident. There were 42 passengers on the train when it crashed. Among them, 23 suffered injuries that were not fatal, and most of them had minor injuries. Some were carried away on stretchers by emergency service teams, and 19 others were evacuated by bus.
Much of the fallen tree was reportedly visible lodged under the front of the train, as significant disruption was caused in the area because of the crash.
The New Jersey Transit had suspended its River Line service between Florence and Trenton due to the crash. A substitute bus service was in place for affected travelers. Route 130 southbound is also closed between Burlington and Kinkora roads.
Most area residents were shocked at the incident, as such accidents with regard to the River Line are fewer and farther in between. One of the locals said that “we have been here for 40 years, and we have never heard of anything like this”. Others were more concerned about the victims and asked the community to keep them in mind.
New Jersey Transit Police were trying to determine the cause of the accident, and a staging area was established at the River Front Motel for families of the injured.
More news on the investigation and the conditions of the passengers will follow as it becomes available.
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