Family of NJ Transit driver killed on the job plans to sue: ‘reckless conduct’

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) — The family of 41-year-old Jessica Haley plans to sue NJ Transit, among others, for her death.

Haley, a single mother of three, was operating an NJ Transit train on the River Line around 6:00 a.m. Monday when, the train struck a large tree that had fallen across the tracks.

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

“This was pure and simple reckless conduct,” said attorney Kila Baldwin, who now represents the family. “These conductors were warning NJ Transit that there was a dangerous condition and they were essentially ignored.”

Baldwin said Haley could not see the tree because it was still dark out.

“No human could see something from a safe enough distance to stop the train, given the speeds of the train.”

Haley’s younger sister, Rebecca, is also a train operator.

Baldwin said both women had complained multiple times about unsafe trees along the tracks.

Baldwin said dangerous trees were marked with ‘X’s’ but never came down.

“I was told the conductors requested that a track car be run each morning down the track, much slower, with no passengers, to make sure the tracks were clear of trees before running these high-speed passenger lines,” said Baldwin. “And that was not done.”

Haley’s family plans to sue the State of New Jersey, New Jersey Transit, New Jersey Transit Rail Operations, Southern JJ Rail Group, Alstom, Burlington County Board of Commissioners, and Township of Mansfield.

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