It was the nightmare scenario New Yorkers dread — a subway train derailment. The incident occurred as commuters were making their way south into Manhattan on the “A” train the morning of Tuesday, June 27.
According to reports from The New York Times, 34 riders suffered injuries when two of the subway cars plunged off the rails. Fire Department New York (FDNY) officials stated that all were taken to area medical centers for treatment. Media reports indicate that none of the passengers suffered from life-threatening injuries.
But passengers spoke of their fear after being enveloped in the smoke and sparks of the wreckage. One woman claimed to be in fear of losing her life, saying, “I never thought it was not a safe system . . . I really don’t want to get back on a train.”
Investigators are still determining what caused the cars to derail, although the head of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said the derailment happened after activation of the train’s emergency braking system.
He also vowed to “rebuild the confidence” in the MTA, which ferries millions of riders each day around the city. When speaking to reporters after the derailment, the agency chief said that their aim was to do so “safely . . . quickly and as efficiently as we possibly can.”
This week’s derailment caused damage to signaling equipment and 200′ of track, as well as causing chunks of concrete to break off the subway walls. It is possible that the decrepit infrastructure of the city’s aging subway system may have contributed to conditions that led to the derailment.
Officials believe that nearly 800 riders were stranded in the subway tunnel for an hour after the accident. The head of the MTA claimed that the smoldering fire was from garbage along the tracks that ignited.Mass transit accidents in New York City can have devastating consequences for commuters. If you are injured in an accident while riding public transportation, learn what your rights are regarding the pursuit of financial compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Source: Refinery29, “Dozens Injured In Manhattan Subway Derailment,” Caitlin Flynn, June 27, 2017
