Over 20 people injured as trains collide and derail in shocking accident
Over 20 people injured as trains collide and derail in shocking accident
Reuters
More than 20 people were injured and hundreds evacuated after two subway trains collided in New York City.
A northbound 1 train carrying around 300 passengers collided with an out-of-service train with four workers on board.
The crash took place at around 3.00pm on Thursday, when the train carrying passengers switched from the express to the local track at 96th Street Station.
Officials have confirmed that at least 24 people suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital.
The crash occured when the train carrying passengers switched from the express to the local track
Reuters
“Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. The injuries that were sustained were consistent with a low-speed train derailment,” FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Ian Swords told reporters outside the train station Thursday night.
New York City Transit said the collision happened because one of the trains incorrectly applied its brakes as it left the station.
An investigation into why the brakes were not properly applied is ongoing.
Richard Davey, President of New York City Transit, said of the switches and signals: “The equipment was working as intended.
NEW YORK LATEST:
“Obviously, two trains should not be bumping into one another.
“We are going to get to the bottom of that,” he confirmed.
The northbound 1 train had not fully left the station, so passengers were able to be evacuated via the platform.
Another train was stuck behind the collision after the power was shut down. 300 to 400 passengers from this train were evacuated via the derailed train.
Emergency response team member at work after at least 24 people were hurt and hundreds were evacuated after two subway trains collided
Getty
Emergency services rushed to the scene and passengers were seen being treated inside hospitals.
Nine out of the 10 carriages of the northbound 1 train have now been rerailed.
Richard Davey, President of New York City Transit, said that there were difficulties getting the final car back on the track due to the subway tunnel’s low ceiling.
Discussing the 10th carriage, Davey said that transit workers are “literally lifting it a few inches, shimmying it over, lifting it a few, shimmying it over. So that process takes a while”.