One dead, 23 injured in NJ Transit River Line train crash

A New Jersey Transit River Line train operator was killed and 23 passengers were injured in Burlington County early Monday when the train collided with fallen trees on the tracks, authorities said.

The southbound train struck the downed trees just after 6 a.m. in Mansfield Township, north of the light-rail line’s Roebling station, an NJ Transit spokesperson said. The train was carrying 45 passengers at the time. The injuries were not life-threatening, NJ Transit said, and paramedics were treating people at a staging area off Route 130.

The train operator has not been publicly identified.

River Line service is currently suspended in both directions between stations in Trenton and Florence Township, and Route 130 southbound near Kinkora Road is closed.

Bus service is being provided to passengers impacted by the incident.

NJ Transit police are on the scene and investigating. It was unclear whether a tree fell on the train or was lying on the tracks when struck. Some helicopter footage from TV news crews showed a partially smashed front window, which could have happened in either scenario.

Norris Young, who told NBC10 he was a passenger in the train, said the train hit “a gigantic tree” in the crash.

“There was a tree on the track, I don’t know if it fell on the track or if it was just laying on the track,” Young said. “It was a gigantic tree on the track.”

He said some people were shaken up or had wounds; one passenger was taken away on a stretcher he told the TV station.

“It was like a movie,” Young said. “I’m still shaken up. Somebody lost their life.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.