At least three people have died and more than 100 people have been injured after a train crashed into Hoboken Station, north New Jersey this morning. The incident occurred during the morning rush hour and has caused significant damage to the station. According to the BBC, some people are still reportedly trapped inside train carriages.
Local bus and ferry services have been accepting train tickets in wake of the crash as rail services both into and out of the station have been stopped. Uber meanwhile has said that all rides taken from “Hoboken train station since the accident will also be refunded.”
All rides taken from the #Hoboken train station since the accident will also be refunded. https://t.co/XE6Pd16OmZ
— Uber New Jersey (@Uber_NJ) September 29, 2016
Hoboken is a terminus and is the last stop for many commuters travelling from the west into New York City. The station is NJ Transit’s fifth busiest and sees 15,000 boardings each weekday.
Line for 14th street ferry post-#Hoboken train accident. @ridetheferry is cross-honoring @NJTRANSIT tickets. pic.twitter.com/RxKENEPTD4
— Hidden Hoboken (@HiddenHoboken) September 29, 2016
“There are fatalities,” said an unidentified senior transportation official speaking in the New York Times. “There are a significant number of injuries. The train was going very fast. There are structural concerns about the facility.” Images and video footage of the aftermath depicts extensive damage to the train station, with a portion of the roof caved into the concourse.
#BREAKING: 3 people confirmed dead in train crash in Hoboken, officials tell @Brian4NY https://t.co/pg64bSdBGL pic.twitter.com/WmLcvVkcea
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) September 29, 2016
“I wasn’t on the train, but I arrived just after it happened,” eyewitness Ben Fairclough told the BBC. There was water coming down off the roof and people climbing out through the windows. There were people sitting down with blood coming from their head. There were lots of injuries.”
As to why the incident happened, there has so far been no response from the National Transportation Safety Board.
LIVE: More than 100 people injured, many still trapped in Hoboken train crash. https://t.co/bbRITaVD48 pic.twitter.com/w9uVHNz6Mg
— Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) September 29, 2016
Speaking of the incident, commuter Jason Danahy who was on the train, told the New York Times how the train came to an abrupt stop as it came into the station. “From the fifth car, it felt like a major skid,” he said. “A creaking noise and a skid. I was lucky to be on the fifth car.”
“I saw bloody noses,” he added. “I saw people crying.”
