UPDATE: Mom Remembers Naval Academy Midshipman Killed in Amtrak Crash

UPDATED at 3:30 p.m.

By Patch Staff

A Rockaway Beach, NY, student on leave from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis was one of the seven people killed Tuesday night when an Amtrak train traveling from Washington to New York crashed off its rails.

Justin Zemser, 20, was returning home on Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 at the time of the crash, his mother told NBC 4 New York.

The Brigade of Midshipmen was told of Zemser’s death Wednesday morning. U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was in Annapolis speaking Wednesday morning to academy seniors about plans to double leave for new parents and other measures to support the Navy’s working parents.

He offered his condolences to students on the death of the midshipman third class, who was a sophomore at the academy, according to the Navy Sports website. Zemser had played on the Sprint football team last fall.

“Our thoughts, our prayers, go out to family, friends and to the entire brigade for losing such a crucial member of this institution,” Mabus said.

Zemser, the son of Howard and Susan Zemser, was a two-year letter-winner on the Channel View High School football team as a wide receiver and served as a team captain in 2011 and 2012.
He was elected as the student government president at Channel View, as well.

“Everybody looked up to him,” Susan Zemser told the Capital-Gazette.

The RIP Justin Zemser Facebook page offered condolences and prayers for his family.

Alison Musante wrote on the page: “R.I.P my heart is broken by hearing this!!”

And Cosmas Sean Jeffries posted, “I’m very sorry for your loss..deepest condolences. Thoughts and prayers coming your way.”

Authorities say another 146 people were injured in the derailment in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.

CNN first reported a midshipman was one of the fatalities. Authorities have not yet released information on the passengers who died.

“The Naval Academy is deeply saddened to report that a midshipman was named as one of the passengers,” the academy said in a news release to the Capital-Gazette.

About noon, Academy officials said on Twitter: “The @NavalAcademy is heartbroken to confirm that a #usna midshipman is among those who lost their lives in the #Amtrak188 derailment.”

SEE ALSO: UPDATE: Train May Have Been Traveling 100 MPH; 7 Killed In Amtrak Derailment In Pennsylvania

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who confirmed early Wednesday that five died at the scene, said he’s “never seen” destruction like this.

Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the train may have been traveling up to 100 miles per hour going into the Port Richmond turn that has a 50 mile per hour speed limit. Amtrak executives spoke to employees during a Wednesday conference call, the report says, and mentioned the train’s possible excessive speed will be a focus for the investigation.

Medical personnel confirmed that a sixth person died at Temple University Hospital early Wednesday and eight people were listed in critical condition.

Amtrak released a statement early Wednesday, saying:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 that derailed [in] Philadelphia Tuesday evening. We ask the news media to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families.”

There were approximately 238 passengers and 5 crew members on board, Amtrak said.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer called the accident a “mass casualty” incident. SEPTA shut down service on the Chestnut Hill West and Trenton Regional Rail lines until further notice.

Individuals with questions about their friends and family should call the Amtrak Incident Hotline at 800-523-9101. Amtrak has also established a Family Assistance Center to work closely with family and friends of passengers on the train.

This is a developing story; Patch will update throughout the day.

»Screenshot of train crash from Channel 10 in Philadelphia; screenshot of RIP Justin Zemser Facebook page; photo of Zemser from Navy Athletics website