(The following story by Giovanna Fabiano appeared at NorthJersey.com on October 10.)
GARFIELD, N.J. — Police were trying to determine Tuesday night why a Clifton woman drove around lowered railroad gates at a Somerset Street crossing during the morning rush, placing herself and her 1-year-old daughter in the path of a commuter train.
Both Alba Arias, 41, of Clifton and the child survived the terrifying crash that left their minivan a mangled wreck. The mother and daughter were admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center with “non-life-threatening” injuries, NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel said.
Arias suffered broken ribs, cuts and bruises. She was issued a summons for driving without a license and for carrying a child without a restraint, Garfield police Lt. Ron Polonkay said.
But Arias may face additional charges, Garfield Police Chief Robert Andrezzi said.
“It’s still under investigation at this point, but we’re definitely looking into several issues,” Andrezzi said.
Arias does not possess a New Jersey driver’s license, but Polonkay said she may be licensed to drive in the Dominican Republic. She was driving a minivan with New York plates, which was registered in her sister’s name, Polonkay said.
When the engineer saw the vehicle go around the gates, he hit the emergency brake but was unable to stop in time, Stessel said.
An investigation by NJ Transit found that “the gates came down properly well in advance of the train’s arrival and that the flashing lights and the gates and bells were all working as intended,” Stessel said.
Arias was issued two summonses by NJ Transit — failure to obey a railroad crossing signal and careless driving, Stessel said.
No one on the Hoboken-bound train was injured, but commuters experienced 15- to 20-minute delays until about 10 a.m. as authorities worked to remove the mangled minivan.