The Star Ledger reports that a 16 year-old Roselle park boy was killed in the early morning of Tuesday, January 25, 2011, after being struck by a New Jersey (NJ) Transit train. The boy’s death marks the fourth on NJ Transit tracks since January 1st.
The accident happened on a raised section of the railroad track at approximately 1:39 p.m. Investigators feel that it may have been a suicide, but that fact has not yet been confirmed. According to NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel, the boy did not attempt to move when the train engineer sounded the horn. The engineer also applied the emergency brakes, which appeared to have been functioning correctly.
An autopsy and determination of the official cause of death are still pending. Approximately 30 passengers were on the Raritan Valley Line train No. 5503 at time of the accident. Neither they nor any members of the crew were injured. The train was headed to Raritan from Newark. After the accident, passengers were accommodated by bus.
What a tragic accident-we can only imagine the loss and sorrow this boy’s family is feeling at this time. Let us hope that NJ Transit did everything in its power to prevent the teenager’s death, including having properly functioning brakes.
If you are walking along railroad tracks at nighttime or in the early morning, make sure you are wearing light colored clothing that is easily visible. Look for flashing lights that warn of an oncoming train, and move out of the way as quickly as possible when the horn sounds.
If you were in a serious railroad accident, contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible.
IW