On October 15, the New York Times reported a tragic incident that occurred in New Jersey, where a light rail train collided with a tree that had fallen onto the tracks. The accident, which took place on the morning of October 14, resulted in the death of the train’s operator and injuries to 23 passengers.
Local officials stated that around 6:04 AM, the train was traveling south from Trenton when it hit a tree just north of the Roblin station in Mansfield Township. The train operator was pronounced dead at the scene. Images from the site showed the front of the train severely damaged, with shattered windows and part of the tree trapped beneath the train.
NBC News reported that the front of the train was completely destroyed, and a large section of the tree remained stranded on the tracks. At the time of the collision, there were 42 passengers aboard the train, and while 23 were injured, most of the injuries were reported to be minor and not life-threatening.
One passenger described the chaos, noting that many people were in shock and some had visible wounds. “It was like something out of a movie,” the passenger recounted, still shaken by the experience. “I’m still rattled. Someone lost their life.”
In the aftermath of the incident, all services on that line between the Florence station and Trenton were halted, but replacement bus services were provided. The New Jersey Transit police have begun an investigation into the accident.
