BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Reuters) - A New York City commuter train derailed at a Brooklyn terminal after ramming into a bumper during Wednesday’s morning rush hour, leaving more than 100 people with non-life-threatening injuries, city officials said.
Dozens of emergency crews swarmed Atlantic Terminal after the Long Island Railroad trainwent off the tracks inside the busy transportation hub at about 8:30 a.m. local time, the New York City Fire Department said.
The train failed to stop on time and struck a bumping block at a fairly low rate of speed, which caused it to derail, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a briefing at the crash site.
About 103 people were injured in the accident, the New York Fire Department said in a Twitter message. Earlier Deputy Assistant Chief Dan Donoghue said at the briefing that 11 people had to go to the hospital.
The derailment, which severely damaged the train’s front two cars, was the second major accident involving New York City’s commuter railroads in the past three months.
In late September, a New Jersey Transit train crashed into a terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, killing one woman and injuring 114 people, including the engineer.
Cuomo, who has made infrastructure improvements a centerpiece of his agenda, said Wednesday’s incident was minor in comparison. The most serious injury in the crash was a broken leg, he said.
“There was an extensive damage in Hoboken,” Cuomo said. “That train was coming in much faster, did much more damage.”
In Brooklyn, police and firefighters, some holding stretchers, were entering the terminal as emergency vehicles blocked traffic.
Commuters, meanwhile, described a frightening and chaotic scene on social media.
“People flying everywhere,” Serena Janae, who said she was a passenger on the derailedtrain, wrote on Facebook.
The U.S. Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board said they were sending investigators to the scene.
Atlantic Terminal, which also connects commuters to nine city subway lines, is one of New York’s busiest stations.
Officials said crews were working to restore service at the terminal by the evening rush hour.
(Additional reporting by Gina Cherelus and David Shepardson; Writing by Laila Kearney; Editing by Frank McGurty and Lisa Von Ahn)
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.