Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
MTA found mostly responsible for Metro-North wreck that killed 6 after SUV drove onto tracks: lawyer
By David Propper,
7 hours ago
The MTA was found to be mostly responsible for a deadly 2015 Metro North crash in which a train plowed into an SUV that errantly drove onto the tracks in Westchester County.
A jury of six people found the cash-strapped agency liable for the Valhalla wreck that killed five commuters and the driver, and could lead the MTA to forking over tens of millions of dollars in damages.
The victims’ family and injured passengers successfully argued the train engineer failed to slow the train down sooner and a flawed system on the tracks led to the third rail piercing through the first car that set it on fire.
The tragic collision happened on Feb. 3, 2015 when married mother of three Ellen Brody , of Edgemont, inadvertently drove her Mercedes SUV onto the tracks while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic as the train approached.
Another lawyer representing some of the passengers who were injured and the family of a fatal victim, Andrew Maloney, said he believes damages could at least be $200 million between all the victims.
“We think the damages are probably in that neighborhood between the death cases and the physical injury cases it could be as high as $200 million,” he told The Post.
“I hope they do a little soul searching and look at the jury’s verdict,” he said of the MTA as the agency decides its next legal steps.
He argued even after the crash, the MTA has not addressed safety concerns on the rail line, calling it “pretty scary.”
The MTA tried to shift all the blame on Brody, claiming her errant driving forced Smalls to make a tough split-second decision, The Journal News reported.
Brody’s husband, Alan, told the newspaper he’s happy to see the transit agency “was delivered a message that they need to completely change their act.”
“In my mind and in my family’s heart she’s completely innocent,” Brody said of her wife. “because she’s caught in a bad situation, which is the responsibility of the Metro-North.”
For the latest metro stories, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/metro/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0