The train operator who died after a NJ Transit River Line train collided with a felled tree on Monday has been recognized by her family’s attorney as a Bucks County mother of three.
Jessica Haley was murdered when the train collided in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, on Monday, according to attorney Kila Baldwin of Anapol Weiss, who spoke with CBS News Philadelphia.
Baldwin, who delivered the statement on behalf of Haley’s family, said the 41-year-old single mother of three boys from Levittown, Pennsylvania, had worked for Alstom, NJ Transit’s contractor, for 20 years.
“This should never have happened, and we will thoroughly investigate the case to hold all responsible parties accountable.” The family is saddened and plans to take this matter to the greatest extent of the law to ensure that no one ever suffers the same tragedy as Jessica,” Baldwin added.
When approached by CBS News Philadelphia, NJ Transit declined to comment on the current litigation.
According to New Jersey Transit, the train was moving south from Trenton when it collided with a big tree trunk just north of Roebling Station shortly after 6 a.m. on October 14. Of the 42 individuals on board at the time of the incident, 23 were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, while the remaining passengers were transferred by bus from the area.
On Tuesday, NJ Transit announced that buses would continue to replace trains between the Trenton Transit Center and Florence Station. Crews are trying to repair the track and “will continue to thoroughly evaluate the area” before the River Line resumes service between those stations, the agency said on X.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the crash and plans to deliver a preliminary report in roughly 30 days.
Reference: Train operator killed in NJ Transit crash identified as Pennsylvania mother of 3, attorney says