Train Operator Dies, at Least 23 Injured After N.J. Train Strikes Tree That Fell on Tracks

Mar. 15, 2025

A train operator is dead and at least 23 other individuals are injured after a tree fell on the New Jersey River Line track on Monday morning, Oct. 14.

The train was traveling southbound from Trenton, N.J. when it struck a tree north of the Roebling Station at approximately 6:04 a.m., New Jersey Transit says in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

In an interview withWJAR, Norris Young, one of the train’s passengers, recalled seeing multiple people sustain graphic injuries.

Photo of scene.abc7NY

abc7NY

“One gentleman had a gash, he was bleeding from the head. One had an open wound, a complete open wound on his head,” he told the outlet, describing the tree as “gigantic.”

While the operator’s identity has not been released, Young told the outlet that he had developed a rapport with her.

“To have someone, even from that small affiliation, just ‘how you doing?’ You know, wake up in the morning, how you doing? Just you know the smile and the pleasant hello, you know in the morning, you know when you get on there, and the next time you see this person they’re just bludgeoned. Bludgeoned,” he said.

“She was just laying there and there was nothing nobody could do,” said Young.

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“River LINE personnel will be continuing to make necessary track repairs and, in an abundance of caution, we will continue to thoroughly evaluate the area around the vicinity of Monday’s accident before resuming regular service between Florence and Trenton,” the statement continues.

It’s is not yet known what caused the tree to fall on the tracks. The New Jersey Transit Police are investigating the incident.

source: people.com