A New Jersey Transit River LINE train crashed early Monday morning in Burlington County, killing the conductor – a 41-year-old mother from Bucks County – and leaving more than 20 riders injured, authorities said.
Officials said the southbound train struck a tree that was on the tracks at around 6 a.m. north of Roebling Station. The operator died and 23 of the 42 passengers on board reported nonlife-threatening and mostly minor injuries, according to NJ Transit.
NJ Transit Police are investigating the crash, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had been briefed on the incident.
Attorneys for the family of the train operator identified her as Jessica Haley, a single mother of three young boys who lived in Levittown. She spent two decades working for Alstom, the company that operates the River LINE through a contract with NJ Transit, the legal team added.
Haley’s sister, Rebecca, who is administering her estate, is planning to sue the state of New Jersey, NJ Transit, Alstom, Burlington County, Mansfield Township and other entities connected to the line.
Kila Baldwin, the Philadelphia-based attorney representing the family, said in a statement that Haley “lost her life due to the failure of the responsible parties to inspect these tracks and keep them clear.”
“This never should have happened, and we will be investigating the case carefully to hold all responsible parties accountable,” Baldwin added.
Rebecca Haley has also been employed by Alstom as a River LINE conductor. She said there have been prior crashes involving downed trees and that train operators have complained about the issue for years, according to Baldwin.
“At one point, dangerous trees along the railway were marked with X’s, but never taken down,” Baldwin said.
Representatives from Alstom and NJ Transit declined to comment on the allegations and the pending litigation.
Alstom issued a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday saying that the company is “devastated” and that additional support would be available to its employees who work on the River LINE.
Service on the line, which runs along the Delaware River between Trenton and Camden, remained suspended in both directions Tuesday from Trenton to Florence, with busing being offered in the affected area.
NJ Transit said crews were continuing to repair the track and “in an abundance of caution, we will continue to thoroughly evaluate the area around the vicinity of Monday’s accident” before resuming service.
