(The Newark Star-Ledger posted the following article on its website on December 1.)
NEWARK, N.J. — An NJ Transit train going 4 mph derailed after it sideswiped a freight train at a rail yard in Suffern, N.Y., yesterday morning.
The passenger train, heading from the yard toward its first stop, was carrying three crew members, none of whom were hurt, said NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett.
The Main Line transit train, with four passengers cars and a locomotive, was merging onto the same tracks where a Norfolk Southern freight train was located and ended up colliding with the freight train about 7:45 a.m., Hackett said.
The crash derailed the cab car of the transit train, which had significant damage.
Hackett said the cause of the collision remains under investigation. The three crew members were removed from service, pending the results of drug and alcohol tests, she said.
NJ Transit had to cancel one morning train on the Main Line as a result of the crash.
A spokesman for Norfolk Southern declined to comment on the accident.