(The following story by Tom Davis appeared at NorthJersey.com on August 14, 2010.)
Last updated: Saturday August 14, 2010, 12:03 PM
CAMDEN, N.J. — An NJ Transit employee who says he was traumatized by the on-the-job death of a co-worker wants the agency to pay $150,000 for the pain he’s suffered since the Feb. 10, 2009, accident.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Camden, Michael Guerrera said he suffered “severe emotional and physical shock and trauma” when Simplicio Nino, a 58-year-old Clifton resident, was killed while working on the tracks in Ridgewood.
Guerrera, of Alpha in Warren County, was employed as a welder’s helper and trackman. He sought medical attention because of NJ Transit’s “negligence,” the lawsuit said.
NJ Transit officials declined to comment Thursday, saying they don’t make public statements on lawsuits that are in progress.
Nino, a welder, was struck on the tracks east of the Ridgewood station about 8:15 a.m. He had worked for NJ Transit since it took over rail operations in New Jersey in 1983 and had 36 years of railroad experience in all.
The train carrying 20 passengers from Hoboken was en route to Suffern, N.Y., where it was scheduled to arrive at 8:43 a.m.
NJ Transit suspended track infrastructure work while an investigation was conducted, and all 900 engineering employees participated in safety briefings and reviews of safety protocols, officials said. The agency would not comment on the investigation, saying it is a confidential personnel matter.
In the lawsuit, which was filed July 30, Guerrera claimed NJ Transit failed to maintain “personnel and equipment in a condition which would protect and safeguard” the workers.