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Seven killed as New York train hits vehicle | Seven killed as New York train hits vehicle |
(35 minutes later) | |
A commuter train has hit a vehicle at a level crossing north of New York City, killing at least seven people and injuring 12, officials say. | A commuter train has hit a vehicle at a level crossing north of New York City, killing at least seven people and injuring 12, officials say. |
The train, with about 800 passengers on board, hit the Jeep Cheroke near Valhalla - about 20 miles (32km) from New York - on Tuesday evening. | The train, with about 800 passengers on board, hit the Jeep Cheroke near Valhalla - about 20 miles (32km) from New York - on Tuesday evening. |
The vehicle's female driver was killed, along with six people on the train, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. | |
The car and front carriage of the train caught fire following the crash. | The car and front carriage of the train caught fire following the crash. |
The packed commuter train had departed from Grand Central Station, in New York City. | The packed commuter train had departed from Grand Central Station, in New York City. |
The crossing gates at the railroad had come down on top of the vehicle, which had stopped on the tracks, Metro-North Railroad spokesman Aaron Donovan said. | The crossing gates at the railroad had come down on top of the vehicle, which had stopped on the tracks, Metro-North Railroad spokesman Aaron Donovan said. |
The driver got out to look at the damage, and got back into the car before it was hit by the train. It pushed the vehicle more than 120m (400ft). | |
Passengers had to escape from the rear of the train, with witnesses saying some had to smash glass windows to flee. | Passengers had to escape from the rear of the train, with witnesses saying some had to smash glass windows to flee. |
Mr Cuomo said: "When you look at the damage done, it's actually amazing that not more people were hurt." | |
Passenger Justin Kaback told ABC News: "I was trapped. It was definitely scary - especially when people are walking by on the outside and said 'The train's on fire'." | |
Another passenger, Jamie Wallace, said passengers had started to "panic" and shout for a fire extinguisher as flames spread to his carriage. | |
Passenger Neil Rader told NBC said some passengers managed to flee the train by breaking glass on the doors to get out, adding: "I've never seen anything quite like it." | |
Metro-North is the second-busiest railroad in the US, serving about 280,000 passengers a day in New York and Connecticut. | |
Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board issued rulings on five accidents that occurred on the railroad in 2013 and 2014, criticising Metro-North while also finding conditions had improved. | |
Did you witness the incident? Were you nearby at the time? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | Did you witness the incident? Were you nearby at the time? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
Have your say | Have your say |