What Happened
What Happened
On October 14, 2024, about 5:58 a.m., an Alstom employee operating southbound New Jersey Transit train 207 was fatally injured when the train struck a tree that had fallen across the tracks of the River Line near Florence, New Jersey. Train 207 consisted of two railcars and had 41 passengers on board in addition to the operator. During the collision, a tree branch penetrated the lead railcar’s forward windshield and struck the operator. Twenty-three passengers were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Alstom estimated damages to equipment to be about $194,000.
What We Found
What We Found
We determined that the probable cause of New Jersey Transit train 207 striking a fallen tree, resulting in a tree branch piercing the front windshield and fatally injuring the train operator, was the predawn low light conditions that prevented the operator from seeing the tree in time to stop the train.
What We Recommended
The investigation identified four cases of trains striking downed trees before this accident. These collisions were minor but indicated the presence of a risk that, on October 14, 2024, led to a fatal collision. This accident underscores the importance of incorporating all measurable hazards into system safety programs.
Comprehensive safety oversight programs are required under federal regulations at 49 CFR Part 674. As a result of this accident, NJ Transit and Alstom completed a corrective action plan to remove tree hazards along the River Line, and NJDOT, as the state safety oversight agency, will continue to monitor efforts to identify and remediate hazards along the River Line.
