NEW YORK, NY — In s statement issued by Joseph J. Giulietti, President of the MTA Metro-North Railroad and Thomas F. Prendergast, Chairman & CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the railroad has issued a statement to customers:
The collision between a Metro-North train and an SUV near Valhalla on Tuesday night is a terrible tragedy that has resulted in the worst loss of life in this railroad’s history.
All of our employees and the entire MTA family are tremendously saddened by this horrible accident, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the relatives and loved ones of the victims and those injured.
We want to thank the first responders who assisted with safely removing the passengers from the train and transporting those who were injured to area hospitals. And we extend our gratitude to the American Red Cross and the local hospitals, governments and communities as well as businesses that provided care and assistance during this difficult time.
We are already working closely with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, and federal, state and local officials to determine the exact cause of this tragedy.
For customers who were on the train involved in the accident, we have established a number to provide assistance. Please call MTA Police at (718) 361-2402 for information on referral/support services and lost items.
And please keep in mind that as you travel on Metro-North, you can remain confident that your safety is always the first priority in everything we do. Our employees at every level are pulling together to make sure this railroad is operated safely and to the highest standards possible.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as our crews worked around the clock to quickly restore service after this tragedy.