Jessica Haley Obituary, Death: NTSB: Broken tree branch shattered river line windshield, killing operator.
Jessica Haley Obituary, Death – A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveals that a branch from a fallen tree on the River Line tracks in South Jersey struck the windshield of a train, killing the operator and injuring 23 passengers. The investigation into the crash that occurred on October 14 is still ongoing, and the NTSB has stated that the findings could change as further details emerge. The exact cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
The incident occurred at 6:02 a.m. when a NJ Transit train, operated by Alstom Transportation, Inc., collided with a tree trunk that had fallen across the tracks near Florence in Burlington County. According to the NTSB, train operator Jessica Haley, 41, activated both the track and emergency brakes, causing the train to slow down. Despite these efforts, the train still collided with the tree, and a branch from the fallen tree smashed through the train’s windshield, fatally striking Haley. The collision caused injuries to 23 passengers, who were treated at a local hospital.
The NTSB’s investigation will continue to examine several factors, including NJ Transit’s maintenance and inspection practices for the right-of-way, dispatcher reporting protocols, and the design of the train, specifically its “crashworthiness.” These aspects of the investigation aim to determine if any preventable factors contributed to the fatal incident.
Haley’s family has announced their intention to pursue legal action against those they believe are responsible for her death. Attorney Kila Baldwin, representing the family, stated that Haley lost her life due to the failure of those responsible to properly inspect the tracks and clear obstacles. Baldwin emphasized that the crash should never have occurred and vowed to carefully investigate the case to hold all responsible parties accountable.
Haley, a single mother of three boys from Levittown, Pennsylvania, had worked for Alstom, the contractor for NJ Transit, for 20 years. Her family noted that the section of the River Line tracks where the crash occurred had experienced ongoing issues with fallen trees, with other trains reportedly hitting downed trees in previous years. Baldwin’s law firm, Anapol Weiss, claimed that train conductors had voiced concerns about the issue for years, raising questions about the adequacy of the maintenance and inspection procedures in place.
As the investigation continues, the NTSB will assess all aspects of the incident to determine whether lapses in track maintenance, communication, or the design of the train played a role in the tragic accident. The case has brought attention to the ongoing safety concerns along this stretch of the River Line and the potential consequences of not addressing these issues in a timely manner.
