WASHINGTON, DC — The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report on the Metro-North Valhalla train/SUV collision.
On February 3, 2015, at 6:26 p.m., a northbound Metro-North Railroad passenger train struck a 2011 Mercedes Benz ML350 sports utility vehicle at the Commerce Street highway rail grade crossing on the Metro-North Railroad Harlem line in Valhalla, New York. An estimated 650 passengers were aboard the train at the time of the accident of which an estimated 20 passengers were in the lead car. The driver of the SUV and five passengers on the train were killed.
- Twelve sections of the third rail, each 39 feet long, were found inside the first passenger railcar.
- When the gate lowered it struck the rear portion of the SUV after which the driver exited the SUV, looked at the back of the SUV, then got back in the SUV, drove forward, and was struck by the train.
- Damage was estimated by the Metro-North Railroad at $3.7 million.
The entire report is here.
