Family of train operator killed in River Line crash planning to sue NJ Transit

SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — The family of Jessica Haley, a River Line train operator who died Monday morning after hitting a tree on the tracks in Burlington County, is taking legal action against New Jersey Transit and several other groups.

Haley was a single mother of three boys in Levittown, Pennsylvania. She was killed in Monday morning’s train crash in Mansfield Township, New Jersey , and at least 23 passengers were hurt.

Rebecca Haley, Jessica’s sister, also works as a conductor for Alstom Transportation — which is contracted with NJ Transit — and has retained the services of Philly-based law firm Anapol Weiss.

Attorney and Anapol Weiss shareholder Kila Baldwin is representing the family. She said initial conversations indicate trees on the River Line tracks have been a recurring issue for years.

“It appears there was a reckless indifference to a very open and obvious problem,” Baldwin said. “Apparently trains have hit trees in that same section in the past. Albeit not as large and not causing injuries, but it was definitely an issue they should have been aware of and should have been protecting the trains from.”

In a statement, Baldwin said there was a small retaining wall guarding one section of the track from debris after a recent landslide, but in many stretches — including where Monday’s crash happened — there was no protection.

“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 added in a statement. “At one point, dangerous trees along the railway were marked with X’s, but never taken down.”

She said the Haley family is angry.

“Honestly, there’s just disgust and heartbreak at the conduct of New Jersey Transit,” she said. “It was a very obvious danger and now Jessica’s dead, and it could have been prevented.”

Officials, including the National Transportation Safety Board , are investigating the crash.

KYW Newsradio reached out to NJ Transit but has not yet received comment on the matter.

In addition to NJ Transit, Baldwin told officials with the state, the Southern New Jersey Rail Group, Alstom, the Burlington County Board of Commissioners, and Mansfield Township that the family is planning to take legal action, NBC10 reported .