Investigators Release New Details In Hoboken Crash Probe

The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released the latest details of its investigation into the fatal NJ Transit train crash that killed one person in Hoboken on Sept. 29. Using event data and forward-facing video recorders, the NTSB determined the train that crashed into the platform of Track 5, killing a 34-year-old woman, was going twice the speed limit, according to new information released Thursday.

The event recorder indicates the throttle increased from idle to the #4 position while the train was going about 8 mph, approximately 38 seconds before the collision at 8:45 a.m. The train began to accelerate, reaching about 21 mph at the time of the crash, the NTSB said.

The speed limit for Hoboken Terminal is 10 mph.

"Event recorder speeds during the final seconds are consistent with train speed estimates obtained from the NTSB’s preliminary analysis of images from the forward facing video camera," the NTSB said in a statement.

The forward-facing video showed the cab car colliding with and overriding the bumping post at the end of the track platform at the Hoboken Terminal. "A large flash was observed as the car collided with the panel just beyond the bumping post," investigators said.

The video recorder also captured the sound of one blast of the train’s horn about one minute before the collision, while the train was in the yard leading to the terminal, investigators said. "The train’s bell began sounding shortly afterward and continued until the end of the recording," the NTSB said.

Both recorders were working as designed and captured the engineer’s entire trip that morning, including the accident, which in addition to the fatality, injured 108 people.

A group of technical experts from the NTSB and investigators are scheduled to meet next week to continue to verify and validate the data recovered from both cab car recorders.

The NTSB has not determined probable cause of the crash. "Analysis of the findings from these recorders and from other facts gathered during our comprehensive investigation will take place after the factual record is complete," the statement said.

The investigation into the crash could take a year or longer.

Photos from the scene showed a mangled train car, with beams and wires that were knocked down. A portion of the roof collapsed; passengers described people screaming and bloodied as they exited the train.

Photo courtesy of John Tachine