Investigation launched into New York train derailment

An investigation has been launched into the train derailment of a New York passenger train which left four people dead and 63 others injured. 

The accident occurred early on Sunday morning. Two carriages left the tracks at a sharp bend and one of them ended up just inches away from the Harlem River. The Metro-North Railroad service was travelling from Poughkeepsie to Manhattan Grand Central terminal. The train derailed at a turn, close to Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx. 

Firefighters had to cut open the wreckage to release the victims trapped inside. The 11 people who were sent to a hospital in a critical condition, are no longer in a life threatening state. It is believed that the number of fatalities is not likely to rise. 

One of the passengers, Amanda Swanson, said: “The windows broke out. The gravel came flying up in our faces. I really didn’t know if I would survive. The train felt like it was on its side and dragging for a long time, the whole thing felt like slow motion.” 

Officials have admitted not knowing the exact number of passengers on board. Divers had to search the river for any casualties as some people were feared to have been thrown from the carriages. It is believed that the number of victims could have been higher if the accident had occurred on a weekday. 

Witnesses said that the train was going much faster than usual. The National Transport Safety Board will be investigating the speed at which the train was travelling. Unconfirmed sources suggest that the brakes might have failed.  A black box has been recovered and is being analysed.

Justyna Majewska