A tragic accident involving a New Jersey Transit train occurred in Burlington County, resulting in the death of the train operator and injuries to 23 passengers.
The incident took place on the morning of October 11, 2024, when an NJ Transit train, traveling through heavy weather conditions, struck a fallen tree on the tracks near the town of Medford. The collision caused significant damage to the train, leading to the derailment of several cars.
The official NJ Transit Train page on X posted that the River Line service will operate between Florence Station and the Entertainment Center in Camden.
However, similar to Monday, service between the Trenton Transit Center and Florence Station will be suspended following the crash. NJ Transit Train will provide bus replacements at all stations along the affected route.
What caused the NJ Transit Train accident?
Preliminary reports suggest that the stormy weather, which had caused multiple trees to fall in the area, may have played a role in the accident. The train was heading from Atlantic City to Philadelphia when it encountered the tree on the tracks, leaving the operator with no time to stop or avoid the impact.
Governor Phil Murphy expressed his grief about the incident on his X account. He wrote:
I have been briefed on an accident on the @NJTRANSIT_RL earlier today in which the light rail struck a tree on the tracks, leading to the death of the train operator and injuring passengers. An investigation is underway. Our prayers are with all affected by this tragic incident.
Evelyn Whitman, a resident of a motel near the train tracks, noted that first responders utilized her parking lot as a staging area. She remarked:
“It was about at least 10 to 20 [vehicles]... It’s just really scary.”
Another motel resident, Patrick Reding, pointed out a steep slope leading from the motel to the tracks and expressed concern that some nearby trees might fall onto the tracks. Reading stated:
“I think they should cut down these trees that are looking dangerous”
People on the internet have been quick to criticize NJ Transit Train for this negligence. One user @sportschris86 wrote:
"Leave it to@NJTRANSIT to not realize there was a tree down on the tracks. I hope the family of the train operator sues NJ Transit for every last penny they have for this horrible negligence."
Another one with the username @KnittelJen voiced:
"Dead ash trees will continue causing these problems if they're not taken down -before they choose to come down wherever and whenever."
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Given that storms are becoming more common and severe due to climate change, this incident calls into question how equipped transit systems are to handle extreme weather events.
Passengers and the larger community are still dealing with the emotional toll of the disaster while the investigation is ongoing. The death of the train operator, whose life was cut short in the line of duty, still saddens many, who are thankful that the overall casualty was not more severe.
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