Broken Tree Branch Smashed River Line Windshield, Killed Operator: NTSB

Traffic & Transit

Broken Tree Branch Smashed River Line Windshield, Killed Operator: NTSB A branch from a fallen tree across the River Line tracks broke the train's windshield and killed operator Jessica Haley, a new report says.

FLORENCE, NJ — A branch from a fallen tree laying across the River Line tracks in South Jersey smashed the train's windshield and killed its operator, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

This new report is subject to change, the NTSB said, as investigation into the crash that killed train operator Jessica Haley, 41, and 23 passengers is still ongoing. A definitive cause of the crash has not yet been identified.

The crash happened on Oct. 14 at 6:02 a.m., according to the report. The NJ Transit train, operated by Alstom Transportation, Inc., struck a tree trunk that was laying across the tracks near Florence in Burlington County, the NTSB said.

Haley activated the track brakes and emergency brakes, causing the train to decelerate. However, the train still struck the tree, and a branch smashed through the windshield, killing Haley, the report said. Twenty-three passengers were injured and treated at a local hospital.

Further investigation will study NJ Transit's right-of-way maintenance and inspection practices, dispatcher reporting procedures and the "crashworthiness" of the train's design, the NTSB said.

Haley's family has announced their intent to sue the parties allegedly responsible for her death.

"(Haley) lost her life due to the failure of the responsible parties to inspect these tracks and keep them clear," attorney Kila Baldwin said in a statement. "This never should have happened, and we will be investigating the case carefully to hold all responsible parties accountable."

Haley was a single mother of three boys who lived in Levittown, Pennsylvania. She worked for Alstom, the contractor to NJ Transit, for 20 years, Baldwin said.

The trees along this section of the New Jersey River Line were troublesome for years and other trains had hit downed trees in recent years, Baldwin claims. The train conductors complained about the issue for years, according to Baldwin's law firm, Anapol Weiss.

This contains additional reporting by Josh Bakan and Dino Ciliberti.