A substantial legal settlement exceeding $182 million has been finalised for the victims of a catastrophic 2015 collision between a Metro-North commuter train and an SUV at a railway crossing in suburban New York.
Details of the Settlement and Liability
The settlement, details of which were reviewed by the Journal News before being sealed by a court, primarily benefits the families of five train passengers who lost their lives. The tragic incident occurred on 3 February 2015 in Valhalla, approximately 20 miles north of New York City, during the evening rush hour.
A jury in 2024 determined that Metro-North Railroad bore the majority of responsibility for the disaster. It assigned the operator 71% of the liability for the passengers' deaths and other injuries, and 63% for the death of the SUV driver. The jury specifically cited failures by the train engineer and the railroad's oversight of the line's electrified third rail.
Breakdown of Compensation Payouts
The financial compensation varies significantly based on the projected lifetime earnings of the victims. The largest single portion, around $79 million, is designated for one specific passenger. Payouts to the families of the other deceased passengers range from $35 million to $4 million.
Attorney Andrew Maloney, who represented some of the roughly 30 injured passengers, criticised the length of the litigation. "This should have never taken 11 years," he stated. "They dragged it out." He further noted that identified problems with the third rail's design reportedly remain uncorrected.
The Fatal Crash Sequence and Aftermath
The collision unfolded when the SUV, navigating backed-up traffic, drove onto the tracks. The crossing gate arm descended onto the vehicle, and the driver proceeded further onto the rails. The approaching train, travelling at about 50 mph (80 kph), smashed into the SUV after the engineer applied the emergency brake a mere three seconds before impact.
The crash was devastatingly intensified when sections of the electrified third rail were torn from the ground. They pierced the SUV's fuel tank and sliced into the train's lead passenger car, causing a fiery blaze.
In response to the settlement, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates Metro-North, declined to comment on specifics. However, it issued a statement saying it has worked with state and federal officials on "material railroad crossing safety enhancements throughout the railroad network over the last decade."
