Single mother identified as New Jersey train operator killed in crash with tree

TRENTON, NJ ( WPHL ) — The New Jersey Transit train operator killed after the train struck a tree on the tracks Monday has been identified as a single mother of three by an attorney representing her family.

Just after 6 a.m. Monday, the train, traveling from Trenton toward the Roebling Station in Mansfield Township, New Jersey, struck the tree on the New Jersey River Line Light Rail.

Its operator, 41-year-old Jessica Haley of Levittown, Pennsylvania, died while nearly two dozen passengers were injured .

Haley had worked for Alstom, the contractor for NJ Transit, for 20 years.

In a statement shared with Nexstar’s WPHL, Kila Baldwin, the attorney for the family of Jessica Haley, said that “while the family is in the process of formally raising the estate, we have served the notice of our intent to file a tort claims act on the State of NJ, New Jersey Transit, New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, Southern JJ Rail Group, Alstom, Burlington County Board of Commissioners, and Township of Mansfield.”

Torts claims provide a legal route for those who believe they suffered injury, death, or damages due to the negligence of another person, company, or business to pursue monetary claims.

“It is the duty of all companies who operate trains to ensure the tracks are clear for the safety of everyone on those trains, including the operators of the trains, like Ms. Haley,” Baldwin added, saying Haley “lost her life due to the failure of the responsible parties to inspect these tracks and keep them clear.”

“This never should have happened, and we will be investigating the case carefully to hold all responsible parties accountable. The family is understandably devastated and intends to pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the law to prevent anyone from ever suffering the same fate as Jessica.”

According to Baldwin, Haley’s sister, Rebecca Haley, also worked for Alstom as a train conductor on the New Jersey River Line. She alleges “the trees along this section of the New Jersey River Line were troublesome for years and other trains had hit downed trees in recent years.”

“The train conductors complained for years that something had to be done and even suggested having a track car go down the southbound track where Jessica was killed in advance of any passenger cars traveling that way,” Baldwin wrote. “At one point, dangerous trees along the railway were marked with X’s, but never taken down. There had been a landslide in that same area recently, and a small retaining wall was put up in one section to prevent debris from falling on the tracks, but many sections of the track, including the one where Jessica was killed, had no protection.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Monday that an investigation into the incident was underway.

When reached for comment, NJ Transit declined to comment due to the pending litigation.

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